In the elderly population, there have been reports of decreased nighttime secretion of melatonin and suggestions that this may, in turn, be responsible for the increased incidence of sleep disorders reported by this age group. On this basis, it has been suggested that augmented nocturnal melatonin levels may improve sleep quality in age-related sleep disorders. Body temperature was measured continually from 2100 to 0700 h, and sleep quality was assessed from PSG variables measured. However, sustained transbuccal melatonin treatment had no positive significant effect on any PSG measure of sleep quality. The results from the present study suggest that sustained nocturnal administration of melatonin, in the low pharmacological range, might be of limited clinical benefit in this subject population.
Insomnia is a broad term for a wide range of sleep disorders, or disturbed sleep patterns.
Sleep is, however, known to be necessary for survival, but its precise physiological function is still uncertain. Individual requirements vary, and range from as few as four hours to as many as nine hours per day. Causes of insomnia may be physical, psychological, or some combination of the two. Symptoms of insomnia also vary and are too subjective to try to list. Nearly always, though, symptoms include drowsiness during the day and unrest during the night.