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Subjective alertness rhythms in elderly people

T H Monk1, D J Buysse, C F Reynolds

  • 1Sleep and Chronobiology Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.

Journal of Biological Rhythms
|September 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Aging alters the body

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Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Gerontology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Circadian rhythms regulate daily physiological and behavioral processes.
  • Age-related changes in circadian rhythms can impact sleep and alertness.
  • Understanding these changes is crucial for addressing sleep disturbances in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-related alterations in the circadian rhythm of subjective alertness.
  • To explore the underlying circadian mechanisms responsible for these changes in aging individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess subjective alertness in older adults (71+ years) and middle-aged men.
  • Employed temporal isolation and constant wakeful bedrest protocols to evaluate circadian rhythmicity.
  • Compared alertness patterns between older men, older women, and young controls.

Main Results:

  • Advancing age, particularly in men, led to reduced rhythmicity in subjective alertness.
  • Alertness rhythm amplitude decreased with age, suggesting weakened input from the endogenous circadian pacemaker.
  • These age-related changes were observed independently of circadian temperature rhythm amplitude, indicating issues with signal transduction.

Conclusions:

  • Aging impairs the rhythmic regulation of subjective alertness, especially in men.
  • Weakened transduction of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) output may underlie age-related alertness changes.
  • Findings may explain increased insomnia and daytime sleepiness in the elderly.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline Regulatory PhysiologyNon-NASA Center

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