Sleep and ageing

More than 50% of men and women over the age of 65 years complain of at least one sleep problem. Many ageing people experience insomnia and other sleep disorders on a regular basis as they get older.

As we get older, our sleep patterns change. In general, older people sleep less, experience more fragmented sleep, and spend less time in stages three and four and REM sleep (deep sleep and dream sleep) than younger people. However, regardless of your age, good restorative sleep is essential to physical health and emotional well-being.

What causes sleep problems in older people?

Several factors may contribute to the inability to sleep well as we get older. Some common causes include:

• Poor sleep habits: Irregular sleep and wake patterns can affect an individual's circadian rhythm and make it hard to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Other sleep hygiene issues, such as consumption of alcohol before bedtime, increased wakeful time in bed, or daytime napping, can also affect a person's ability to sleep.
• Medications: Some medications may impair a person's ability to fall asleep or stay asleep and may even stimulate wakefulness at night.
• Psychological distress or mental health disorders: Ageing is characterised by a lot of life events, some positive and some negative. Some elderly people experience psychological problems or mental health disorders that will affect the quality and quantity of sleep. For example, life changes such as the death of a loved one, moving from a family home, or physical limitations due to illness can cause significant stress and sleep problems.
• Sleep disorders: Sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, and REM behaviour disorder, may be associated with ageing in some cases.
• Retirement: Retirement often leads to a lot of downtime with less daytime activity; this can lead to an irregular sleep and wake schedule and chronic sleep problems.

Are you getting enough sleep?

Regardless of age, every person's sleep needs are different. If you are getting less sleep than when you were younger, but still feel rested and energetic during the day, it might just be that you now need less sleep. However, if you notice that your lack of sleep is affecting your daytime activities, you should seek medical advice. There are steps you can take to improve your sleep quality.