Which condition might lead to prolonged wakefulness at night?

Prolonged wakefulness at night can be associated with advanced sleep phase syndrome. This condition is characterized by an abnormal circadian rhythm, where individuals have a significant tendency to fall asleep and awaken much earlier than typical. Those affected often feel strong sleepiness in the early evening and wake up at a very early hour, which can disrupt their overall sleep patterns and lead to extended periods of wakefulness at night as they attempt to adjust their sleeping schedule to align more closely with societal norms.

In contrast, other conditions such as insomnia are specifically characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, rather than having an altered sleep phase. Narcolepsy involves excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks but does not typically lead to prolonged wakefulness at night. Restless legs syndrome, on the other hand, is a condition that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them, which can disrupt sleep but does not necessarily correlate with prolonged wakefulness in a typical sleep phase context. Thus, the nature of advanced sleep phase syndrome more directly contributes to the experience of prolonged wakefulness during the night.