Effects of volitional lifestyle on rest-activity cycle in the aged

The present study investigated the relationship among volitional lifestyle, activity and sleep in the aged. We selected 28 subjects over 65 years of a ge to survey volition to lifestyle. High volitional group (14 Ss, mean age: 74.1 years, seven males and seven females) and low-volitional group (14 Ss , mean age: 73.0 years, seven males and seven females) were identified by t he scale of self-confidence and the Philadelphia Geriatric Center morale sc ale, Wrist activities were monitored by Actigraph for 10 or 14 consecutive days. The subjects recorded sleep logs by themselves for those days. It was found that high volitional aged individuals had a relatively well structur ed sleep in comparison with low volitional aged individuals, and that most of them took a clock dependent habitual nap around 14.00 h. On the other ha nd, low volitional aged individuals had a relatively poor structured sleep, and took a nap time-dependently after 8 h from the morning rising time. Th ese results suggest that high volitional aged individuals build a short nap into their well organized sleep-life habits.