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Objective

Evidence concerning whether sleep disturbances in older adults predict mortality is mixed. However, data are limited to self-reported sleep problems and may be confounded with other comorbidities. We examined whether electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep parameters predicted survival time independently of known predictors of all-cause mortality.

Methods

A total of 185 healthy older adults, primarily in their 60s through 80s, with no history of mental illness, sleep complaints, or current cognitive impairment, were enrolled in one of eight research protocols between October 1981 and February 1997 that included EEG sleep assessments. At follow-up (mean [SD]= 12.8 [3.7] years after baseline, range= 4.1–19.5), 66 individuals were positively ascertained as deceased and 118 remained alive (total N= 184).

Results

Controlling for age, gender, and baseline medical burden, individuals with baseline sleep …