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Sleep Architecture Degradation

Meaning

A clinically significant deterioration in the quality, structure, and proportional duration of the distinct stages of the sleep cycle, including NREM (stages N1, N2, N3/Slow-Wave Sleep) and REM sleep. Degradation is characterized by reduced Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS), diminished REM density, and increased sleep fragmentation, compromising the restorative functions of sleep. This is a critical factor in hormonal dysregulation and cognitive decline.