Abstract
The sleep/wake rhythm is one of the most important biological rhythms. Quality and duration of sleep change during lifetime. The aim of our study was to determine differences in sleep efficiency, movement, and fragmentation during sleep period between genders and according to age. Sleep period was monitored by wrist actigraphy under home-based conditions. Seventy-four healthy participants—47 women and 27 men participated in the study. The participants were divided by age into groups younger than 40 years and 40 years and older. Women showed lower sleep fragmentation and mobility during sleep compared to men. Younger women showed a higher actual sleep and sleep efficiency compared to older women and younger men. Younger men compared to older men had a significantly lower actual sleep, lower sleep efficiency and significantly more sleep and wake bouts. Our results confirmed differences in sleep parameters between genders and according to age. The best sleep quality was detected in young women, but gender differences were not apparent in elderly participants, suggesting the impact of sex hormones on sleep.
Highlights
Circadian rhythms are biological rhythms with a period of approximately 24 h
We found differences in sleep parameters according to actigraphy between women and men (Figure 1)
Women showed significantly less one-min immobility during sleep compared to men (p < 0.01, Figure 1F) and spent a greater percentage of sleeping periods in immobility (p < 0.05; Figure 1G) and a significantly lower percentage of time moving during sleep (p < 0.05; Figure 1H) compared to men
Summary
Circadian rhythms are biological rhythms with a period of approximately 24 h. They are controlled by the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus [1]. These rhythms allow organisms to adapt better to changes in the external environment. One of the basic circadian rhythms is the sleep/wake rhythm, which is regulated by circadian and homeostatic processes that interact with each other [2]. Sleep and wakefulness are maintained and controlled by a complex network, with neurotransmitters as the main components of the ascending arousal system. Suppression of the wake-providing system is ensured by inhibitory neurons of the ventrolateral preoptic area that manage sleep [3,4]
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