Do we sleep less as we grow older?

By Dozee internal editorial team

Remember the endearing 70-year-old father from the popular Bollywood movie ‘Piku’, who is obsessed with his health and always complaining about it? An individual’s sensitivity to a particular problem, especially among older people, is crucial as it can strongly influence whether or not they are likely to report a problem pertaining to disturbed sleep. When it comes to sleep health, while one might view age-related sleep change as severe and report of a sleeping disorder, another may perceive normal to be a trivial problem

Does the need for sleep decline with age?

Contrary to popular belief the need for sleep doesn’t decline with age. As people age, they tend to have a harder time falling asleep and more difficulty staying asleep than when they were younger. Older people spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep than in deep or REM sleep. Much of the sleep disturbance among the elderly population can be attributed to physical and psychiatric illnesses, and the medications used to treat them.

Understanding sleep in the elderly population

As we age, our body produces lower levels of growth hormone, leading to a decrease in slow wave or deep sleep, an important part of the sleep cycle. When this happens, the body produces less melatonin leading one to experience disturbed sleep patterns. Sleep disturbances observed in the elderly population may be the result of changes in the physiological systems that generate and regulate circadian rhythms.

Older adults, who don’t sleep well, are more prone to suffer from depression, attention and memory problems, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Insufficient sleep can also lead to serious health problems, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight problems.

Factors affecting the sleep quality of older individuals

The sleep quality in older population might get affected by various factors which may be termed as poor sleep hygiene. The factors that impact poor sleep hygiene include the following:

• Individual’s chosen sleep schedule
• Daytime napping
• Their bedroom environment, including bed, acoustics, lighting, dietary habits, lack of regular exercise and exposure to daylight; inappropriate use of caffeine, alcohol, or medications; and inappropriate use of the bedroom environment such as using bedtime as worry time.

Improving sleep hygiene among the elderly population can aid in optimizing their sleep quality. Awareness about age-related sleep changes along with specific advice regarding sleep hygiene can help address sleep-related worries amongst the elderly population.

Common causes of sleep problems in older adults

Common causes of sleep-related problems that may impact older adults are as follows:

Pain or medical conditions: Health conditions such as a frequent need to urinate, joint pain, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis, night-time heartburn, and Alzheimer’s disease can affect your sleep.

Menopause and postmenopause conditions: During menopause, it is common for women to experience hot flashes and night sweats. Improving diet and following an exercise regime can help.

Medications: Sleep can also get affected by the consumption of medicines and their side-effects. Consulting a physician to make changes in medicine can improve sleep.

Research has shown that the incidence of insomnia is higher in older adults than in younger adults, but is most often associated with other age-related conditions. The consequences of poor sleep in older adults include poor health, cognitive impairment and mortality. Sleep difficulties are often associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities and the presence of multiple medical conditions has been found to affect to sleep quality. Careful health assessment is necessary to screen out sleep complaints and disorders in older populations.

If your parents or loved ones are experiencing sleep-related problems persistently or complaining of inadequate sleep, consult a physician to understand what is causing it. You can also use Dozee every night from the comfort of your home to study the sleep patterns of your parents and loved ones every day. To know more about how Dozee can help understand the sleeping patterns, consult us at 8884436933.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Dozee is not a medical device. It is not designed or intended for use in diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disorder or illness.