Late life insomnia: A brief review

Abstract

Insomnia in life-life is a common clinical presentation and yet its appropriate assessment and management can be challenging. This is largely due to the complex interplay of various co-morbid factors like physical or mental disorders, poly-pharmacotherapy, primary sleep disorders, psycho-social and environmental factors. Despite several evidence-based effective treatments being available, inappropriate pharmacotherapy is common and frequently leads to poorer outcomes and considerable risks in this population group. Nonpharmacological treatments are effective, but remain largely under-funded and infrequently used. This paper reviews the important changes in classification of insomnia; normal age related changes of sleep; factors contributing to late-life insomnia and useful assessment tools and treatment strategies in the management of chronic insomnia.

Keywords

• Aging
• insomnia
• late-life
• management
• sleep
• treatment