What is the average REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep for an 83-year-old female?

Average REM Sleep in an 83-Year-Old Female

The average REM sleep for an 83-year-old female is approximately 76 minutes per night, which is significantly reduced compared to younger adults. 1

Age-Related Changes in Sleep Architecture

• Normal aging is associated with decreased total sleep time, reduced sleep efficiency, and decreased slow wave and REM sleep, with increased stages 1 and 2 sleep 2
• In healthy older women, the mean normal total sleep time is approximately 392 minutes, with about 76 minutes spent in REM sleep 1
• Sleep architecture changes most significantly between ages 19-60, with more modest changes after age 60 in healthy individuals 2
• Older adults experience more frequent interruptions of sleep by long periods of wakefulness, which can further fragment REM sleep 2

Gender Differences in Elderly Sleep Patterns

• Significant gender differences exist in sleep architecture among the elderly - older males tend to have less total sleep, shorter REM latency, and less deep sleep compared to females 3
• Women over 88 years maintain better preservation of REM sleep compared to age-matched men 3
• Women aged 20-70 spend an average of 76 minutes in REM sleep, with this value decreasing with advancing age 1

Normal REM Sleep Patterns in Elderly

• REM sleep typically occurs in approximately 90-minute cycles throughout the night, with more REM sleep taking place in the last half of the night 2
• In very elderly individuals (>88 years), there is often a shift of REM sleep to the first part of the sleep period and increased cycle variability 3
• The percentage of REM sleep in the lowest 15% (<16.1% of total sleep time) or highest 15% (>25.7% of total sleep time) of the distribution has been associated with increased mortality risk in older adults 4

Factors Affecting REM Sleep in Elderly Women

• Medical and psychiatric illnesses can exacerbate age-dependent sleep disruption, including reductions in REM sleep 2
• Alcohol dependency is associated with reduced REM sleep in women 1
• Common medications used by elderly patients, including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can suppress REM sleep 2, 5
• Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) can further fragment sleep and reduce REM sleep quality 2

Clinical Implications

• Decreased REM sleep in elderly women may contribute to cognitive decline and should not be viewed as simply a normal part of aging 6
• Polysomnography remains the gold standard for evaluating sleep architecture and identifying causes of REM sleep disruption 7
• Interventions to optimize and protect older adults' sleep initiation, continuity, and quality may improve health outcomes and reduce mortality risk 4
• Sleep complaints in elderly women should prompt identification of underlying causes rather than being dismissed as normal aging 6

Measurement Considerations

• There is significant inter-expert variability in sleep stage scoring in older adults, though consensus appears good for REM sleep identification 8
• Ambulatory sleep-wake recordings can provide objective evaluation of sleep function in normal aging without the first-night effect that may occur in laboratory settings 3
• When assessing nocturnal sleep patterns, the effects of sleep quality need to be considered, as deep and quiet sleep (NREM) is associated with lower heart rate compared to REM sleep 2