Sleep spindles may be more irregular or of lower voltage in which of the following groups?

Sleep spindles are brain wave patterns characterized by bursts of oscillatory brain activity that typically occur during non-REM sleep, particularly in stage 2 sleep. They are usually indicative of stable sleep and play a role in memory consolidation and other cognitive processes.

In elderly patients, sleep spindles may be observed as more irregular or of lower voltage due to the natural age-related changes in brain structure and function. As people age, there is a decline in the number of spindles and a decrease in their amplitude. This can impact the quality of sleep and may be associated with cognitive decline or various neurological conditions that are more prevalent in older adults.

This phenomenon highlights how the aging process can influence electrophysiological patterns during sleep, which is crucial for understanding sleep architecture and its implications for overall health in the elderly population. Therefore, the presence of irregular or lower amplitude sleep spindles is a distinct characteristic observed more commonly in elderly patients compared to other groups.