BZDs (benzodiazepines) and BZRAs (benzodiazepine receptor agonists) Disrupt EEG Sleep Quality

Insomnia in older adults is associated with widespread benzodiazepine (BZD) and benzodiazepine receptor agonist use (BZRA) such as Ambien despite evidence that chronic use of these sleep medications disrupts sleep regulation and cognition. A new study examined the effects of chronic BZD/BZRA use on EEG activity during sleep. Sleep EEG data were analyzed from 101 participants with a mean age of 66 years who were categorized into three groups: good sleepers, individuals with insomnia, or individuals with insomnia who chronically use BZD/BZRA more than three times/week. The results showed that, relative to good sleepers and individuals with insomnia, the group who chronically used BZD/BZRA medications for sleep exhibited disrupted sleep architecture, with less deep sleep and more stage 1 (light) sleep. These results suggest that chronic BZD and BZRA use is associated with poorer objective sleep quality. Such alteration of sleep stages may contribute to the reported association between BZD/BZRA use and cognitive impairment in older adults.