Herbie Murray
As we age, our sleep patterns change. Older people tend to sleep for fewer hours than their younger counterparts, but does this mean they need less sleep? There are several theories as to why older people sleep less, including disruptions to their circadian rhythms, medical and psychiatric illnesses, and the prevalence of primary sleep disorders. However, it's important to note that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends seven to nine hours of sleep each night for adults, regardless of age. This means that a healthy 70-year-old should still be getting the same amount of sleep as an 18-year-old. So, why do older people seem to need less sleep?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Circadian rhythms disrupted | Older people wake earlier and go to bed earlier |
| Sleep quality | Older people's sleep quality is not as good as when they were younger |
| Sleep disorders | Insomnia, sleep apnea, chronic pain, menopause, nocturia |
| Medical and psychiatric illnesses | Headaches, arthritis, dementia, Parkinson's, depression, heart failure |
| Napping | Older people may nap during the day |
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What You'll Learn
Circadian rhythms and body clocks
The aging process is thought to disrupt our circadian rhythms, causing us to wake up earlier than we should. Studies have shown that our internal clocks do indeed shift as we get older, leading people to wake up earlier in the morning and go to bed earlier at night. This shift in circadian rhythms may be one reason why older people sleep for fewer hours than their younger counterparts.
However, it's important to note that this doesn't necessarily mean that older people need less sleep. They may still require the same amount of sleep but are unable to get it due to various factors. For example, older people's body clocks may prevent them from sleeping during the day, even if they want to. Additionally, medical issues and sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, chronic pain, and menopause, can also contribute to poor sleep quality and quantity in older adults.
The quality of sleep tends to decrease with age as well. Even when older individuals do fall asleep, the sleep they get may not be as restorative as the sleep they experienced when they were younger. This decline in sleep quality can be attributed to changes in circadian rhythms and the higher prevalence of primary sleep disorders that come with age.
While it's true that older people tend to sleep less, it's not necessarily because they need less sleep. Lifestyle and behavioural factors, medical conditions, medications, and changes in circadian rhythms all play a role in the sleep patterns of older adults.
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Medical and psychiatric illnesses
While it is a common misconception that older people need less sleep, this is not necessarily true. Older people may sleep for fewer hours, but this could be because they are unable to sleep for longer periods. The aging process can disrupt circadian rhythms, causing people to wake earlier than they should. This may be due to medical and psychiatric illnesses, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, chronic pain, menopause, arthritis, neurodegenerative disease (like dementia or Parkinson's), depression, nocturia, and heart failure. These illnesses can cause discomfort, making it difficult to sleep. Additionally, medications taken for these illnesses can also impact sleep. Treating the underlying illness is key to improving sleep quality in older adults.
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Lifestyle and behavioural factors
Additionally, medical issues and sleep disorders can contribute to changes in sleep patterns as people age. This includes insomnia, sleep apnea, chronic pain, menopause, and other conditions such as arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, depression, nocturia, and heart failure. The medications taken to manage these conditions can also impact sleep.
While it is challenging to determine the exact sleep needs of older individuals, it is important to note that a lack of sleep can have long-term impacts on health and well-being. Therefore, addressing any underlying medical or psychiatric illnesses that may be disrupting sleep is crucial.
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Sleep disorders
It is a common misconception that older people need less sleep. While older people do sleep for fewer hours, this is not because they need less sleep. Instead, it is because they are unable to sleep for as long as they need to. This could be due to a number of factors, including changes in their circadian rhythms, which cause them to wake up earlier in the morning and go to bed earlier at night. Older people may also be prevented from sleeping during the day, even if they want to, due to their body clocks.
Lifestyle and behavioural factors can also play a role in the sleep patterns of older people. Napping during the day may impact an older person's ability to sleep at night. However, it is important to note that while older people may sleep for fewer hours, this does not necessarily mean they need less sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends seven to nine hours of sleep each night for adults age 18 and over, and this recommendation does not change with advanced age. A healthy 70-year-old, for example, still needs seven to nine hours of sleep per day.
While the amount of sleep needed may not change with age, the quality of sleep can decrease. Older people may find that when they do fall asleep, the quality of their sleep is not as good as when they were younger. This can have long-term impacts on their health and well-being, leading to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of accidents. Therefore, it is important to address sleep disorders and disruptions in older adults to ensure they are getting the recommended amount of sleep each night.
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Napping during the day
It is a common misconception that older people need less sleep. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends seven to nine hours of sleep each night for adults age 18 and over, and this doesn't change with age. However, older people do tend to sleep for fewer hours than younger people. This could be because the ageing process disrupts their circadian rhythms, causing them to wake earlier than they should. It could also be because older people are more likely to have medical or psychiatric illnesses that cause discomfort and make it harder to sleep. These could include pain from headaches or arthritis, neurodegenerative disease (like dementia or Parkinson's), depression, nocturia (going to the bathroom two or more times a night), heart failure, and so on. Medication for these illnesses can also disrupt sleep.
If you are an older person who is struggling to sleep at night, it might be worth considering whether you are napping during the day. Sometimes, older people can't sleep at night because they've spent part of the day napping. However, it is harder than it sounds to establish how much sleep people of different ages need. While older people may get less sleep than younger people, this doesn't necessarily mean that they need less sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends seven to nine hours of sleep each night for adults age 18 and over, and this doesn't change with age.
One hypothesis is that the ageing process disrupts their circadian rhythms, causing them to wake earlier than they should.
It's hard to establish how much sleep people of different ages need. While older people sleep for a shorter time than younger people, this doesn't necessarily mean they need less sleep.
A lack of sleep can have a long-term impact on the immune system and on many other aspects of health, including wellbeing, as well as leading to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of accidents.
Poor sleep in older people can be caused by lifestyle or behavioural factors, medical issues, and sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, chronic pain, and menopause.
