While sleep patterns change as we age, aging itself does not cause sleep problems. However, many of the things that accompany aging, including medical conditions and certain medications, influence our ability to sleep. Sleep disturbance can make memory worse, slow response time, and make it difficult to sustain attention, which can easily be mistaken as signs of dementia. Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, one of the world's leading authorities in sleep disorders, talks about how and why our sleep patterns change over time and the impact this has on our overall health. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23248]