Effects of sleep management with self-help treatment for the Japanese elderly with chronic insomnia: a quasi-experimental study

Effect of a Home-Based Simplified Tai Chi Exercise Program on Sleep Quality, Daytime Sleepiness, Quality of Life, and Psychological Well-Being in Egyptian Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Introduction: Sleep disturbances are common among older adults and can have detrimental effects on their overall well-being. Tai Chi exercise has shown promise in improving sleep quality, quality of life (QoL), and psychological well-being in various populations. Objective: To investigate the effect of a home-based simplified Tai Chi exercise program on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, QoL, and psychological well-being in Egyptian older adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 152 participants aged 60 years and above assigned to either an experimental group (n = 87) or a control group (n = 65). Thecontrol group received a health education program to improve their sleeping quality and life-style, while the experimental group received a similar health education program and Tai Chi exercise training program. The participants in the experimental group were instructed to perform 3 months Tai Chi exercise. Data on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, QoL, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and depression symptoms were collected at baseline, and one month, and 3 months post-intervention using validated questionnaires. Repeated measures ANOVA was done to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention programsover 3 time periods. Results: The results showed significant improvements in sleep quality (p < .001), QoL (p < .005), GAD (p < .005), and depression symptoms (p < .005) post-interventions. Also, there were significant difference in the effectiveness of the intervention programs between both the experimental and control groups. The experimental group exhibited greater improvements compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings support the beneficial effects of a home-based simplified Tai Chi exercise program on sleep quality, QoL, and psychological well-being in Egyptian older adults. These results have important implications for promoting healthy aging and improving overall well-being in this population. Further research is recommended to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms of Tai Chi exercise on the outcomes of interest.

Sleep disorders among educationally active elderly people in Bialystok, Poland: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Sleep disorders in an ageing society constitute a significant public health problem. It is estimated that approximately 50% of people aged 55 years and older have trouble sleeping, including initiating and maintaining sleep. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in a group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok, Poland.

METHODS

The study included a total of 182 people - residents of Bialystok - aged 60 or older; 146 women (80.22%) and 36 men (19.78%). The study used three standardized psychometric scales: The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

RESULTS

More than half of the respondents scored 6 or more points on the AIS, which is considered a value that indicates a high probability of insomnia symptom occurrence. A similar percentage of respondents obtained a point value on the ISI indicating the presence of insomnia. The vast majority of respondents scored below 11 points on the ESS, which means no symptoms of excessive sleepiness. There was a significant correlation between the results of the above scales in the examined group in total and also by sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, constitute a significant social and health problem in the group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok. In light of the obtained study results, it is recommended to conduct and improve existing health education programs aimed at the elderly regarding sleep disorders to improve the quality of their sleep, and thus quality of life, and raise the awareness of the elderly about the importance of sleep in everyday life. There is a need for further research in the field of sleep disorders in the elderly to determine the prevalence of these disorders on a national scale.

Recent Developments in the Management of Insomnia in Later Life

Purpose of review

Insomnia impacts a significant proportion of older adults yet is not an inevitable consequence of aging and is amenable to intervention. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of recent recommendations and empirical findings regarding the management of insomnia in older adults.

Recent findings

The treatment of insomnia with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) continues to be empirically supported and the recommended first-line intervention for adults. Accumulating evidence indicates that other non-pharmacological therapies for insomnia, such as mindfulness-based therapies, light therapy, and physical activity interventions, as well as treatment delivered by non-clinician "sleep coaches" also positively impact insomnia symptoms. Finally, recent systematic reviews offer guidelines and recommendations for pharmacological management of insomnia.

Summary

CBT-I remains the recommended first-line treatment for insomnia across adult ages. There is a continued need to increase the availability and optimize the delivery of CBT-I and other therapies for older adults with insomnia to maximize treatment benefits. There is also evidence for some benefit of pharmacological agents to treat insomnia; however, these are not without risks, particularly in the geriatric population.

Stilbene Glucoside, a Putative Sleep Promoting Constituent from Polygonum multiflorum Affects Sleep Homeostasis by Affecting the Activities of Lactate Dehydrogenase and Salivary Alpha Amylase

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for treating insomnia for centuries. The most used CHM for insomnia was Polygonum multiflorum. However, the molecular mechanism for CHM preventing insomnia is unknown. Stilbene glucoside (THSG), an important active component of P. multiflorum, may play an important role for treating insomnia. To test the hypothesis, Kunming mice were treated with different dosages of THSG. To examine the sleep duration, a computer-controlled sleep-wake detection system was implemented. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) electrodes were implanted to determine sleep-wake state. RT-PCR and Western blot was used to measure the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and saliva alpha amylase. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to identify the strength of correlation between the variables. The results showed that THSG significantly prolonged the sleep time of the mice (p<0.01). THSG changed sleep profile by reducing wake and rapid eye movement (REM) period, and increasing non-REM period. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that THSG could down-regulate the levels of LDH and saliva alpha amylase (p<0.05). The level of lactate and glucose was positively related with the activity of LDH and saliva alpha amylase (p<0.05), respectively. On the other hand, the activities of LDH and amylase were negatively associated with sleep duration (p<0.05). The levels of lactate and glucose affect sleep homeostasis. Thus, THSG may prevent insomnia by regulating sleep duration via LDH and salivary alpha amylase.