An Introduction to the Clinical Correlates of Disrupted Slow-Wave Sleep

Chronic sleep deficits have been shown to lead to problems with cognition and memory, and evidence supports an association between deficits in slow-wave sleep and a variety of clinical and psychiatric disorders. Improving sleep architecture through an increase in slow-wave sleep, with or without increases in total time asleep, may lead to improvements in these associated disorders. Further research and the development of novel sleep therapies, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic, are needed.