ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Insomnia is the most common sleep-related complaint in the elderly and its prevalence increases with age. In one study of more than 9000 older adults, 42% reported difficulty falling or staying asleep (1). The high frequency of insomnia has led to a popular myth that disturbed sleep is a part of the normal aging process. In fact, it is the factors associated with aging, but not aging per se, that contribute to poor sleep. Therefore, it is not surprising that insomnia is so prevalent in the elderly given the multiplicity of both internal and external factors that can have a negative impact on sleep.
