[Sleep disorders in the elderly and in dementias]

Abstract

Sleep disorders are very frequent in the elderly. Bearing in mind the growth of this population group in western societies, it is of great importance to understand the sleep diseases that affect them and what their treatment should be. On the other hand, it is in this age group where we find the majority of patients with dementias. The treatment of sleep disorders in these patients is complex. An adequate control of insomnia and of the excessive nocturnal activity that usually occurs in the advanced phases of dementias has an important social repercussion. This article summarises the peculiar characteristics of sleep disorders in the elderly as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic handling of sleep disorders in patients with dementias.