Sleep Disorders and Aging in Women.

Women of advancing age can suffer from an array of sleep disorders. We review the changes in sleep architecture, the impact of hormonal changes on sleep, and the various sleep disorders in women of advancing age. A focused history in this population should include the temporal relation to menopause and comorbid conditions.

Sleep Disorders and Aging in Women.

What are the effects of sleep disturbance and changes of sleep on aging women in the short and long term? Most research that has been done in recent years evaluates how sleep disorders and sleep disturbance may change mortality and outcomes of this population. Many confounding factors may be playing a role, including comorbid conditions. This article reviews sleep disorders including insomnia, circadian sleep-wake rhythm disorders, restless legs syndrome, disorders of hypersomnia, and sleep-disordered breathing in women aged 65 and older; prevalence of these disorders; and recommended treatment options.

Sleep and Epilepsy.

Sleep plays an intricate role in the disease process of epilepsy. Despite the complexity of this relationship, the prognosis is a favorable one for patients presenting with sleep disorders and epilepsy. Clinicians need to be vigilant about asking about and addressing sleep complaints in patients with epilepsy.