Summary: As people age, their sleep patterns tend to change, often becoming shorter and more fragmented. According to Alicia Roth, PhD, a sleep psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, these changes are common but not necessarily permanent. Sleep disturbances, such as reduced deep sleep and frequent nighttime awakenings, are reported by over half of adults aged 65 and older. However, Roth emphasizes that effective treatments are available to address these issues, even if they’ve persisted for years, and older adults should seek help if sleep problems begin to interfere with daily life.
Key Takeaways:
- Sleep Quality Declines with Age: Aging adults often experience shorter and less restorative sleep, with frequent nighttime awakenings becoming more common.
- Sleep Issues Are Treatable: Poor sleep in older age is not inevitable, and there are effective treatments available, even for long-standing sleep problems.
- Seek Help When Sleep Affects Daily Life: Alicia Roth advises older adults to consult a doctor if sleep disturbances begin to impact their daily functioning, as professional support can improve sleep quality.
As we age, our sleep needs and habits change. While we tend to sleep more in our younger years, this gradually decreases as we get older.
“Our sleep tends to get shorter and more interrupted in the middle of the night as we go from younger to older adulthood. We start experiencing less deep, restorative, quality sleep,” explained Alicia Roth, PhD, a sleep psychologist for Cleveland Clinic, in a release.
Although you can struggle with sleep issues at any age, older adults tend to experience them more. In fact, more than half of adults over the age of 65 complain of at least one sleep problem. These issues can stem from many factors, like taking certain medications or conditions like sleep apnea.
Roth stresses that it’s important to pay attention and note any changes in sleep. She assures that treatment is available even if it’s a problem you’ve had your entire life.
“If you notice your sleep is getting worse as you get older, it’s not just inevitable you’re going to sleep poorly for the rest of your life,” says Roth in a release. “There are doctors who can help you with that problem.”
Roth says it’s time to seek help if a sleep issue starts affecting your daily life.
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