What Do Paul Newman, Shirley MacLaine and Dr. William C. Dement Have in Common?
As of the March/April 2001 issue, each has been the featured personality in one of AARP's progressive magazines. Dr. Dement will appear on the cover of the current issue of AARP's Bulletin, which will bring the story of his life and works to its 32 million readers.
Sixty-two percent of people over 65 have been reported to have more that 10 respiratory disturbances per hour of sleep1. Over 38,000 deaths per year can be attributed to the cardiovascular consequences of obstructive sleep apnea2. Fewer than 5% of Americans with a treatable sleep disorder have been diagnosed by their physician. These are just a few of many startling statistics that illustrate how crucial the field of sleep medicine is to each and every one of us. By featuring Dr. Dement's story, the editorial advisors of AARP are helping to educate the public about the importance of sleep and sleep disorders.
1 Ancoli-Israel S, Kripke DF, Klauber MR, et al: Sleep-disordered breathing in community-swelling elderly. Sleep 14:486-495, 1991.
2 National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research. Executive Summary and Executive Report. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1993.
While neither retired nor retiring, Dr. Dement nonetheless, presents an appropriate portrait of the active and productive "American Senior." At 72 years, he continues to be the point man for an entire industry, a complete field of health education and research, as well as an active public policy campaign. Showing no signs of slowing down, Dr. Dement can be found regularly at lecterns in Stanford classrooms, physician meetings and Congressional hearings. One secret to his sustained energy may be that he regularly practices what he preaches. Despite the busy schedule, Dr. Dement always makes it a point to get the sleep he needs to avoid a personal sleep debt.
The AARP article recommends to all its readers Dr. Dement's latest book, The Promise of Sleep. Written with the layman in mind, this affordable reader-friendly guide, provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of sleep and sleep disorders. It looks at the current state of scientific understanding and underlines clearly the challenges remaining. It is humorous, informative, introspective and concise, and should be on the coffee table (or bedside stand) of everyone who has ever slept, overslept, wanted to sleep or couldn't sleep. A Bantam Dell publication, the paperback version is available through this website. Click here to read reviews and to order your copy.
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