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Neuro-Geriatrics pp 285–309Cite as

Sleep Disorders

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Abstract

Elderly individuals are at increased risk for sleep disturbances due to a variety of factors including comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders, social stressors, polypharmacy, and physiological changes that accompany aging. Contrary to popular belief, sleep disturbances should not be assumed to be an inherent part of the aging process. Many elderly adults needlessly suffer from treatable conditions. Insomnia disorders, sleep related breathing disorders, and restless legs syndrome are highly prevalent disorders in older adults. Circadian rhythm disturbances and REM sleep behavior disorder accompany or precede the emergence of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and the alpha-synucleopathies. Treatment of sleep disorders represents an opportunity to prevent the development or progression of medical and psychiatric disorders, reduce morbidity and even mortality, and improve quality of life (QOL), mood, and cognition. A number of evidence-based sleep therapies exist with favorable tolerability profiles for use in geriatrics populations.

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Disclosures

Dr. Rodriguez reports no disclosures, Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer has no disclosures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, Neurological Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue, S73, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Carlos L. Rodriguez M.D. & Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer D.O., M.S.

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  1. Carlos L. Rodriguez M.D.
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  2. Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer D.O., M.S.
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Correspondence to Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer D.O., M.S. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Neurological Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Babak Tousi

  2. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

    Jeffrey Cummings

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Rodriguez, C.L., Foldvary-Schaefer, N. (2017). Sleep Disorders. In: Tousi, B., Cummings, J. (eds) Neuro-Geriatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56484-5_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56484-5_19

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