Effect of chronic benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine receptor agonist use on sleep architecture and brain oscillations in older adults with chronic insomnia
Our results suggest that chronic BZD and BZRA use is associated with poorer sleep quality. Such alteration of sleep regulation-at the macro and micro-architectural levels-may contribute to the reported association between BZD/BZRA use and cognitive impairment in older adults. Statement of Significance Widespread use of sedative-hypnotics is driven by high insomnia rates among older adults. Chronic use can disrupt cognitive function; however, its impact on sleep regulation is not well understood. We assessed the effect of chronic benzodiazepine use in older adults using a between-group design involving good sleepers, drug-free individuals with insomnia disorder and individuals with insomnia disorder who chronically use sedative-hypnotics as a sleep aid. We performed a comprehensive comparison of sleep architecture, electroencephalogram relative spectrum, and associated NREM brain oscillations related to memory consolidation. We showed that chronic use of sedative-hypnotics is detrimental to sleep regulation-at the macro and micro-level-and this may contribute to the reported link between sedative-hypnotic use and cognitive impairment in older adults.
Authors
- Dylan Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2628-8375)
- Margaret M. McCarthy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1373-0518)
- Francis Andriamampionona
- Mehdi Essounni
- Victoria Yue
- Florence B. Pomares (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1139-9825)
- Caroline Desrosiers
- Thien Thanh Dang‐Vu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7235-2721)
- Jordan O’Byrne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4924-4220)
- Oren M. Weiner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5271-7711)
- Nathan Cross (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7325-7646)
- Kirsten Gong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0512-4427)
- Lukia Tarelli
- Cara Tannenbaum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7102-2333)
- Aurore A. Perrault (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2839-610X)
- Suzanne Gilbert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8972-8388)
- Antonia Maltezos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5078-9407)
- Loïc Barbaux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7282-1872)
- Doris Clerc
- Jean-Philippe Gouin
- David Lussier
Institutions
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Statistics Canada (CA)
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research (AU)
- McGill University Health Centre (CA)
- Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (CA)
- Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CA)
- Concordia University (CA)
- Université de Montréal (CA)
- Macquarie University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- SLEEP
- Published
- 2025-06-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf168
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 11.45