Sleep facilitation by Artificial carbonated bathing in healthy elderly

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11294
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Uemura Sachiko (上村佐知子) 秋田大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (40271829)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 神林 崇 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 教授 (50323150) ; 長谷川 裕晃 宇都宮大学, 工学部, 教授 (90344770)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 人工炭酸泉 / 睡眠促進効果 / 高齢者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We evaluated the effects of normal (plain hot water; PH) and artificial carbonated bathing (ACB) on sleep using clinical thermometers and EEG in healthy elderly subjects. Nine healthy elderly women (average age 71.3 years old) were divided into 2 groups. Each group took ACB and PH with one week intervals between the two baths. Subjects soaked in the bath (38°C) for 10 min.Subjects were told to sleep from 23:00-6:00. Then, subjects were examined with visual analog scale (VAS) and critical flicker fusion test (CFF).
There was no significant difference in body temperature (proximal, distal, distal-proximal temperature gradient: DPG) before and during sleep between ACB and PH. The condition of the ACB tended to have less light sleep compared to PH (150min vs 201min, p=0.08), but there was no significant difference in the SWS (44.1min vs 39.1min, ns), EEG delta power analysis, VAS and CFF.

Free Research Field

理学療法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者の不完全な睡眠を、人工炭酸泉浴による体温調節によってメリハリをつけることで、睡眠そのものがもつ回復的な役割を十分に発揮させ、認知症の発症を抑制する戦略は、前例のない独創的な試みである一方で、十分な見込みがあると期待される。また、簡便な人工炭酸泉浴の睡眠への効果を、高齢者に応用できれば、睡眠導入剤を減量しながら医療費の削減にも貢献できると考える。