Drop in deep sleep may cause memory decline in older people

Posted : Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:09:07 GMT
By : DPA
Category : Health
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Berlin - Getting less deep sleep with advancing age may be partly responsible for older people's poorer memories, the Berlin- based German Neurological Society (DGN) reported. Deep sleep was important for the consolidation of memory, it noted.

According to the DGN, a person's sleep patterns change over the years. Young people 25 years old or younger spend about 19 per cent of their sleep in the deep-sleep phase, which drops to about 3 per cent between the ages of 36 and 50.

The DGN said that young adults spent more than an hour in deep sleep during the first half of the night, when sleep was especially deep. For older ones, however, the time was just 18 minutes.

People with persistent sleep disorders also have abbreviated deep sleep, impairing their ability to mentally store things they have learned during waking hours.

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Re:sleep
By: Marjorie Hendersen , Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:54:40 GMT

I was diagnosed "narcolepsy" "sleep apnea"--age 62..However this began whn I turned 14 years of age, I know--but thought I was tired, etc--Had 7 children--single Mom for 14 years and I supported and worked as Waitress( so I could be on the move).Was injured at work and weas given Rehab tests and found my IQ was well above 140---they said 'well, you can do anything you want'!! they didn't know I had Narcolelpsy---I am soon to be 81 years and a Neurologist told me to practice sleep periods and naps(instead of any medications)and that I had probably survived because of my intelligence---The past 6 years I had had several very stressful experiences and I have noticed my sleep paterns are a bit sproadic--and less deep sleep possible---AND this article from DGN--sounds right--and I know I get less deep sleep--and maybe cannot control this-because altho' I don't work or have great demand schedule--everything(me) I am slower/but restless--and I don't want to slow-down. Thanks..



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