Sleep in the elderly SLEEP 2010;33(2):211-223

Subject:	Sleep in the elderly SLEEP 2010;33(2):211-223
Date:	Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:27:03 -0600

In 1985, I copyrighted a mechanism of sleep basically saying that: In
daytime concentrations, DHEA, when acting with specific proteins, is the
molecule of consciousness, i.e., activation of the nervous system. During
deep sleep, concentrations of DHEA are reduced; only enough DHEA is produced
to maintain autonomic functions. Melatonin is the molecule of sleep.
Melatonin causes sleep, because it reduces production of DHEA. During
sleep, reduced nighttime levels of DHEA reciprocate with melatonin to
produce either slow-wave sleep (SWS) or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
These low productions of DHEA are higher during REM sleep, and lower during
SWS. As sleep occurs, melatonin is "used up," and DHEA increases. During
consciousness, DHEA is used; melatonin increases, but is not released till
DHEA levels decline to a low level prior to sleep." Since then, it has been
demonstrated that melatonin affects DHEA production and vice versa. In
fact, DHEA administration does induce REM sleep (Am J Physiol. 1995
Jan;268(1 Pt 1):E107-13).

You may read this in more detail at:
http://www.anthropogeny.com/Sleep%20and%20SIDS.htm .

Melatonin and DHEA are both reduced during normal ageing. Therefore,
reduced melatonin reduces the onset of sleepiness when lying in a
comfortable position. Younger individuals sleep more for the same reason,
that is, they have increased melatonin. There is no "lessening in
homeostatic sleep requirement." This is the same reason old adults slept
less and less deeply. There is not less of a need for sleep in old people;
they simply cannot sleep as much because their melatonin - DHEA cycle is
slowing.

James Michael Howard
Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.A.