Sleep disorder or simple sleep ontogeny? Tendency for morningness is associated with worse sleep quality in the elderl

• Grant number: 16/11203-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Mario Pedrazzoli Neto
• Grantee: Mario Pedrazzoli Neto
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the alterations in sleep and circadian parameters during the ageing process. The study sample comprises volunteers older than 18 until 90 years of age that answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Horne & Ostberg circadian preference questionnaire. We observed that the shift to morningness with increasing age is associated with a significant worsening in sleep quality. We discuss that this sleep profile characterized by morningness and worse sleep quality observed in elderly, when compared to younger people, reflect not necessarily a pathological state, but an expected profile for this age group. (AU)