How Sleep
Changes
Middle-aged
and elderly people tend to spend less time in deeper
sleep than younger people. In addition, the average
total sleep time increases slightly after age 65
as do reports of difficulty falling asleep. One
study found that after 65, 13 percent of men and
36 percent of women reported taking more than 30
minutes to fall asleep.
What
causes this difficulty? The elderly generally secrete
lesser amounts of certain chemicals that regulate
the sleep/wake cycle. Both melatonin (a substance
produced by the pineal gland that promotes sleep)
and growth hormone production decrease with age.
There
are also changes in the body temperature cycle which
occur with age. These factors may cause, or be a
consequence of, sleep problems. In addition, a decrease
in exposure to natural light and a change in diet
may exacerbate sleep difficulties. Some researchers
theorize that daytime inactivity (lack of exercise)
and decreased mental stimulation may also lead to
the "aging" of sleep.
Falling
asleep isn't the only difficulty older people may
face at night. Sleep also becomes more shallow,
fragmented and variable in duration with age. The
elderly wake more frequently than younger adults.
Recent research suggests that the aging bladder
can contribute to this. Daytime sleepiness follows.
Persistent
trouble falling asleep at night or frequent drowsing
by day is not normal or inevitable with age.
Sometimes,
age-related changes mask underlying sleep disorders.
For example, sleep apnea, a breathing disorder,
is more common in the middle and elder years. The
repeated awakenings caused by a literal lack of
breath lead to daytime sleepiness.
How to
tell whether daytime drowsiness is a result of a
sleep disorder, sleep deficit or depression? Consult
a sleep specialist.
The
Impact of Sleep Problems
Sleep
Deprivation has measurable negative effects on performance
and physical and mental health: Reduced energy,
greater difficulty concentrating, diminished mood,
and greater risk for accidents, including fall-asleep
crashes. Work performance and relationships can
suffer too. And pain may be intensified by the physical
and mental consequences of lack of sleep.
