Insomnia in late life: New perspectives on an old problem

insomnia is a pervasive complaint among older Americans, ¹ so much so that many assume advanced age is inevitably linked wih disturbed sleep. Nevertheless, a growing body of evidence indicates that disease burden, medication effect, inactivity, and poor sleep habits rather than age are the major contributors to sleep disorders. ² As a result, proper diagnosis and modification in patient sleep habits can frequently prevent the need for pharmacologic intervention. Unfortunately, <25% of older adults with insomnia have discussed the problem with their physicians. ³.