Insomnia and Sleep Disorders: Understanding and Managing These As We Age

Sleep problems are common in older adults and can include difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia), breathing problems, or abnormal behaviours during sleep. In this webinar recording, geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Sophiya Benjamin provides an overview of both the causes and effects of poor sleep, exploring disorders and medications associated with sleep disturbances. You’ll learn about how sleep problems are assessed and diagnosed, as well as treatment and management strategies, including measures to promote good ‘sleep hygiene’, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, and helpful resources.
00:00 Introduction
1:27 What is a normal circadian rhythm?
2:53 What are the different stages of sleep?
4:06 What are some age-related changes to sleep?
5:25 What are the various sleep disorders?
6:30 What are restless leg syndrome, REM sleep behaviour disorder, and substance or medication-induced sleep disorders?
8:40 What is sleep apnea?
9:56 What is insomnia disorder?
17:23 How is insomnia disorder treated and assessed?
20:12 What is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)?
31:21 What medication treatments are there for insomnia?
36:55 How do alcohol and cannabis affect sleep?
39:30 What resources are available to help with insomnia disorder?
42:00 Are there medications that are known to worsen insomnia?
43:44 Are melatonin and magnesium effective for insomnia?
47:10 Are over-the-counter sleep medications bad for you?
​​48:54 Can meditation help with falling asleep?
51:21 What are the effects of screen time, reading, or using audiobooks before falling asleep?
52:18 What should I do if I have to wake up in the night to urinate?
53:53 Should I be napping?
55:02 Is there an association between sleep disorders and dementia?
56:04 How is a sleep assessment done by a health care professional?
58:18 Are wearable devices accurate in tracking sleep metrics?
59:38 What is the role of hormones in insomnia during menopause?
1:01:18 Are there medical conditions that can cause insomnia?
Learn more at: www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/...
Dr. Sophiya Benjamin is an Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University. She is a geriatric psychiatrist serving seniors with dementia at the Specialized Mental Health Program at the Freeport site of Grand River Hospital. She is the Schlegel Chair in Mental Health and Aging at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and co-founder and co-executive director of GeriMedRisk, a Ministry of Health-funded, clinical and education service that helps doctors and nurse practitioners across Ontario with questions about medications in older persons.
Dr. Anthony Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and a physician who works in the area of consultation-liaison psychiatry in Hamilton, Ontario. He leads the design and development of multimedia content, including online learning about various topics related to healthy aging for the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.
This talk is presented as a partnership between the Optimal Aging Portal and the Office of Alumni Engagement.
Disclaimer: These videos are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The videos may be used for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal ([e-mail]).