Effects of Chronic Sleep Restriction in Young and Older People
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies, Insomnia Sleep Studies, Endocrine |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Endocrinology, Psychiatry / Psychology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 70 |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | December 2006 |
| End Date: | June 2011 |
Sleep, Aging, and Circadian Rhythm Disorders
The purpose of this study is to examine the consequences of chronic sleep restriction on
nighttime sleep, daytime alertness, performance and memory functions, and metabolic and
cardiovascular function, and to determine if the consequences of chronic sleep restriction
differ between healthy young and older adults.
nighttime sleep, daytime alertness, performance and memory functions, and metabolic and
cardiovascular function, and to determine if the consequences of chronic sleep restriction
differ between healthy young and older adults.
It has long been recognized that sleep patterns change with age. A common feature of aging
is the advance of the timing of sleep to earlier hours, often earlier than desired.
Polysomnographically-recorded sleep in older people shows an increased number of awakenings,
a reduction of stages 3 and 4 (SWS) sleep, and a flattening of REM sleep distribution
throughout the night. These age-related changes are found in even healthy individuals who
are not taking medications and who are free from sleep disorders. In addition to these sleep
disturbances, many older individuals curtail their sleep voluntarily, reporting similar
rates of sleep restriction (sleeping less than 7 or less than 6 hours per night) as young
adults. Whether voluntary or not, insufficient sleep has medical, safety and metabolic
consequences. In fact, converging evidence in young adults suggests that sleep restriction
per se may impair metabolism, and that reduced sleep duration is associated with weight
gain, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
The study begins with 21 days of outpatient study in which the participants will be required
to sleep for 10 hours each night in order to ensure they are well-rested. This will be
followed by a 39-day inpatient study. The study will begin with 3 "sleep satiation" days
during which all participants will be scheduled to sleep for 12 hours per night and have a 4
hour nap each afternoon. This is followed by 3 baseline days in which the participants will
follow the same sleep-wake schedule they were following at home. Following this, the
participant will undergo 3 weeks of chronic sleep restriction while living on a non-24-hour
schedule. The participant will live on a schedule that is equivalent to 5.6 hours of sleep
per 24 hours. Following these 3 weeks, the participant will be scheduled to again sleep for
10 hours per night for 10 nights.
is the advance of the timing of sleep to earlier hours, often earlier than desired.
Polysomnographically-recorded sleep in older people shows an increased number of awakenings,
a reduction of stages 3 and 4 (SWS) sleep, and a flattening of REM sleep distribution
throughout the night. These age-related changes are found in even healthy individuals who
are not taking medications and who are free from sleep disorders. In addition to these sleep
disturbances, many older individuals curtail their sleep voluntarily, reporting similar
rates of sleep restriction (sleeping less than 7 or less than 6 hours per night) as young
adults. Whether voluntary or not, insufficient sleep has medical, safety and metabolic
consequences. In fact, converging evidence in young adults suggests that sleep restriction
per se may impair metabolism, and that reduced sleep duration is associated with weight
gain, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
The study begins with 21 days of outpatient study in which the participants will be required
to sleep for 10 hours each night in order to ensure they are well-rested. This will be
followed by a 39-day inpatient study. The study will begin with 3 "sleep satiation" days
during which all participants will be scheduled to sleep for 12 hours per night and have a 4
hour nap each afternoon. This is followed by 3 baseline days in which the participants will
follow the same sleep-wake schedule they were following at home. Following this, the
participant will undergo 3 weeks of chronic sleep restriction while living on a non-24-hour
schedule. The participant will live on a schedule that is equivalent to 5.6 hours of sleep
per 24 hours. Following these 3 weeks, the participant will be scheduled to again sleep for
10 hours per night for 10 nights.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Chronic or acute medical condition
- Medication use
- Depression
- History of psychiatric illness
- Sleep disorder
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