Insomnia Linked to Depression in Elderly
(HealthDayNews, 6/27/05)

Dr. Michael Perlis of the University of Rochester Sleep and Neurophysiology Research Laboratory, and team, conducted two studies that show a link between chronic insomnia and depression among the elderly. In the first study, the scientists monitored 1,800 seniors who had been diagnosed with depression. The researchers found that after a year, depressed elderly patients who suffered from sleeplessness were more likely to continue experiencing depression than non-insomniacs. In the second study, Perlis and team tracked 147 older adults and found that insomniacs, especially women who had sleep problems, were more likely to become severely depressed than subjects who slept well.

(Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting, Denver, 2005)