sleep over the lifespan

Question 1

Little is known about sleep in utero bc we don’t have the tools to measure it, we DO however know that_________

Answer 1

Sleep mechanisms emerge BEFORE birth

Question 2

Sleep is estimated to begin at 10 weeks and we see this by__________

Answer 2

emergence of different BEHAVIOURAL states in utero

Question 3

Rhythmic activity starts after_____ weeks

Answer 3

20-28

Question 4

After birth, what sleeping patterns differentiate normal/ abnormal developing infant

Answer 4

NORMAL - NREM increase + continued waning of REM sleep, get entrained 36w after birth to regular sleep cycles
ABNORMAL - increase in NREM not seen, abnormal brain states on EEG, do NOT get entrained

Question 5

‘Quiet’ sleep refers to_______, whereas ‘active’ means _____

Answer 5

NREM - regular breathing ; REM - irregular breathing

Question 6

At 36 weeks infants begin to have rhythms, sleeping for 70% of the night and 65% of the day, they accomplish this because _______

Answer 6

NOT KNOWN - must be somehow genetic + entrained from mother

Question 7

Typically developing neonates sleep for ______h in a 24 cycle

Answer 7

16-18h BUT not continuously

Question 8

Describe REM/NREM patterns pre –> post birth

Answer 8

Building up to the birth have INCR amount of NREM

After birth, have a waning amount of REM

Question 9

We know the foetal circadian rhythms emerge by ______ trimester

Answer 9

THIRD - begin to have regularity in HR / activity that is IN SYNC with mother

Question 10

New parents struggle to sleep enough because the child also barely sleeps T/F

Answer 10

FALSE - get heaps of sleep but it is not regular / organised

Question 11

Ultradian rhythm refers to_______

Answer 11

3-4h rhythms in babies where they eat, sleep, wake

Question 12

After birth, describe baby’;s sleep patterns in 3 steps

Answer 12

Ultradian rhythm
Free running
Entrainment after 4 months (16w)

Question 13

Melatonin rhythms arise at ________days

Answer 13

45

Question 14

at _____ months child begins to sleep through most of the night

Answer 14

2-3 mths

Question 15

> 12 months nap ______
<12 months nap ______
<6 months nap_______

Answer 15

>12 = 1 a day 
<12 = 12 a day 
<6 = 3-4

Question 16

Sleep tends to be stable for the first few months but typically regresses in ________

Answer 16

4th month after birth –> 4mth sleep reggression when NREM/REM cycles emerge

Question 17

What is meant by sleep organisation changes in babies?

Answer 17

As they get older, NUMBER of sleep periods changes;
• Polyphasic (0-1yo),
• biphasic (1-3yo),
• monophasic (3+) i.e. one sleep period per 24h

Question 18

K complexes + SWS emerge ________ months

Answer 18

at 6 months

Question 19

Which is INCORECT;

a) toddlers have a dramatic drop in sleep duration
b) by 4-5 sleep rhythms start to resemble adults
c) sleep rhythms are longer than adults
d) circadian preference starts to develop by 6-yo

Answer 19

C - rhtyhms are SHORTER than adults lasting 40-60min + more cycles

Question 20

By ______ age REM/NREM are established and are identical to adults;

a) 10
b) 12
c) 14
d) 16

Answer 20

D - 16

Question 21

Adolescents have dramatic fall in sleep duration but maintain the same NEED for sleep. This is caused by ‘the perfect storm’consisting of 3 components______

Answer 21

1) circadian phase delay = onset of biological signals get delayed
2) Slowed rise of sleep pressure = signal to sleep is weakened
3) more sensitive to light

Question 22

Sleep is adulthood is primarily associated with increased ___________

Answer 22

sleep fragmentation

Question 23

TST dramatically decreases with age T/F

Answer 23

False - does decrease by 10 mins each decade. Assoc w incr sleep awakenings = reduced EFFICIENCY

Question 24

Young bodies are more resistant to sleep deprivation T/F

Answer 24

False - OLDER people are more resilient to sleep deprivation. (but this is liekly due to their system malfunctioning)

Question 25

Why do older people experience difficulties falling asleep?

Answer 25

VLPO system (sleep switch) deteriorates with age, delta waves start dropping after 20 yo

Question 26

Describe the link between SWS and memory impairment

Answer 26

SWS is important for clearing toxins, DECLARATIVE (explicit) memory, maintaining grey matter function.
The relationship between ageing and memory loss is mediated by the amount of SWS we get bc we then have LESS toxins, and MORE grey matter = BETTER declarative memory

Question 27

Which is UNTRUE;

a) interstitial space increases during sleep in animal models
b) An important part of REM sleep is metabolising Beta - amyloid during sleep
c) a majority of adults report at least 1 sleeping problem
d) Adolescents sleep for the same amount as elderly

Answer 27

B - Beta Amyloid is cleared by NREM SWS.
C - true, 57% report at least one, but 43% don’t report any = ageing does not CAUSE sleeping issues
D - D - true, adolescents sleep for the same amount, but have a DELAY compared to older adults

Question 28

Elderly have greater intradaily instability in terms of their sleep T/F

Answer 28

TRUE - have more rapid wake/rest cycles

Question 29

Brain atrophy related to sleep is likely to occur________

Answer 29

Medial temporal lobe + PFC

Question 30

The timing of sleep in older adults can be summarised in 3 points________

Answer 30

1) Advanced phase
2) Changes to circadian mechanisms i.e. VLPO,
3) Decreased amplitude

Question 31

Reduction in the amplitude of sleep may be attributed to ______

Answer 31

Napping in the wake maintenance zone
Early morning awakenings
Increased propensity to nap

Question 32

The most frequent complaints of sleep in older adults_______ and are caused by________

Answer 32

Sleep INITIATION + maintenance

Due to VLPO waning with age + decreased SWS, more fragmentation, lower sleep drive, day time napping