How Hyperarousal and Sleep Reactivity Are Represented in Different Adult Age Groups: Results from a Large Cohort Study on Insomnia

Abstract

Hyperarousal is a 24-h state of elevated cognitive and physiological activation, and is a core feature of insomnia. The extent to which sleep quality is affected by stressful events—so-called sleep reactivity—is a vulnerability factor for developing insomnia. Given the increasing prevalence of insomnia with age, we aimed to investigate how hyperarousal and sleep reactivity were related to insomnia severity in different adult age groups. Data were derived from a large cohort study investigating the natural history of insomnia in a population-based sample (n = 1693). Baseline data of the Arousal Predisposition Scale (APS) and Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST) were examined across age and sleep/insomnia subgroups: 25–35 (n = 448), 35–45 (n = 528), and 45–55 year olds (n = 717); good sleepers (n = 931), individuals with insomnia symptoms (n = 450), and individuals with an insomnia syndrome (n = 312). Results from factorial analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed that APS scores decreased with increasing age, but increased with more severe sleep problems. FIRST scores were not significantly different across age groups, but showed the same strong increase as a function of sleep problem severity. The findings indicate that though arousal predisposition and sleep reactivity increase with more severe sleep problems, only arousal decreases with age. How arousing events affect an individual during daytime thus decreases with age, but how this arousal disrupts sleep is equivalent across different adult age groups. The main implication of these findings is that treatment of insomnia could be adapted for different age groups and take into consideration vulnerability factors such as hyperarousal and stress reactivity.

Open-Loop Audiovisual Stimulation Induces Delta EEG Activity in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis Pain and Insomnia

“…Insomnia is characterized by difficulties initiating (latency) and/or maintaining sleep as well as early morning awakenings (EMA), with resulting daytime dysfunction complaints. Regardless of the insomnia subtype (sleep latency, maintenance, or EMA), researchers have hypothesized that cognitive and/or physiological hyperarousal is a key factor contributing to insomnia symptoms (Altena et al, 2017). In a recent review paper, Krone et al (2017) described a top-down regulation model suggesting that arousal and sleep in humans can be modulated through changes in cortical activity induced by noninvasive brain-stimulation techniques such as cerebral thermal transfer, sensory stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial current stimulation, sensory stimulation, and electromagnetic field and radio-frequency exposure.…”

How sleep problems contribute to simulator sickness: Preliminary results from a realistic driving scenario

“…Insomnia is a highly prevalent condition, particularly in women, that puts individuals at further risk of developing serious health problems such as depression and cardiovascular problems (Sivertsen, Krokstad, Overland, & Mykletun, 2009;Sofi et al, 2014). This condition of chronic partial sleep deprivation further affects cognitive and affective daytime functioning (Altena et al, 2016(Altena et al, , 2017Ohayon & Lemoine, 2004). Sleep problems have been associated with changes in interoceptive sensitivity, which is the ability to detect internal bodily sensations such as heartbeat and breathing (Yoris et al, 2015).…”

Midday Napping and Successful Aging in Older People Living in the Mediterranean Region: The Epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

“…Older people commonly have at least one sleep problem, as life and sleep patterns change. Stressful events are frequent among older people and may cause disrupted sleep [5]. However, many older people, especially those living in the Mediterranean region, tend to take a short nap in the early afternoon and/or after the midday meal, i.e., midday napping.…”