Late-Life Sleep and Sleep Disorders

The etiology and course of sleep complaints and disorders in older adults is often complicated, which is partially attributable to changes in social rhythms (e.g., retirement) and other age-related factors (e.g., increases in medical, physical, cognitive, and psychological complaints and conditions). Geropsychologists should be aware of the nuances involved in the differential diagnostic assessment of normal age-related sleep changes versus sleep disorders and other comorbidities among older adults. There are numerous diagnosable sleep disorders that can manifest during older adulthood; however, this chapter will discuss the three most prevalent: insomnia, advanced sleep phase disorder, and sleep-disordered breathing. We will begin with a brief background of the epidemiology and ontogeny of late-life sleep, followed by an overview of sleep assessment in the older adult, and concluding with a review of evidence-based sleep treatments and discussion of future directions.