Do Octogenarian Women Have More REM Sleep Than Octogenarian Men?
Yes, octogenarian women are more predisposed to REM sleep compared to octogenarian men, though both sexes experience age-related reductions in REM sleep overall. 1
Gender Differences in REM Sleep Among Octogenarians
The most direct evidence addressing this question comes from research specifically examining gender differences in older adults:
Women in the older age groups demonstrate greater predisposition to REM sleep compared to men, even as both sexes experience the normal age-related decline in REM sleep that occurs with aging 1
Men experience more pronounced reductions in slow-wave sleep with aging, which may indirectly affect the REM/NREM balance differently between sexes 2
Elderly men show a decrease in REM sleep latency (REM occurs earlier in the night) and have most of their REM sleep concentrated at the beginning of the night, contrasting with the typical pattern where REM sleep is longer at the end of the night 2
Age-Related Context for Both Sexes
While women maintain relative advantage in REM sleep propensity, both octogenarian men and women experience:
Decreased total REM sleep as part of normal aging, with most significant sleep architecture changes occurring between ages 19-60, and more modest changes after age 60 in healthy individuals 3, 4
More frequent sleep interruptions by long periods of wakefulness, which can fragment REM sleep cycles 3, 4
REM sleep that still occurs in approximately 90-minute cycles, with more REM sleep typically in the last half of the night (though this pattern is disrupted more in elderly men) 3, 4, 2
Important Clinical Caveats
Medical and psychiatric comorbidities exacerbate age-dependent sleep disruption, including further reductions in REM sleep, but this represents an independent problem that benefits from treatment rather than being merely a symptom of the comorbid condition 3, 4
Common medications used by elderly patients can suppress REM sleep, including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors 4, 5
Women metabolize certain sleep medications (like zolpidem) 50% slower than men, which is relevant when treating any identified sleep disturbances 1