Sleeping Issues

An estimated 5% of the population have a gene that allows them to fully function on six or less hours of sleep a night, rather than the general recommendation of eight hours.

Sleep may be as important to health in old age as diet and exercise. Numerous studies have shown that sleeping too much or too little is associated with mortality among older adults.

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A growing body of research indicates that not getting enough sleep may also increase the risk of several conditions and chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression.

Today’s Research on Aging(Issue) explores National Institute on Aging-supported research on sleep and aging, reviewing new evidence indicating that poor sleep may be both a sign of ill health and a trigger for processes related to disease and biological aging.

While sleep often tends to become more challenging for older people, insomnia—trouble falling asleep and staying asleep—is not a given with old age. The research examined here underscores the importance of screening for poor sleep and interventions that improve the sleep of older people.

                                                                                

Sleep is an active physiological process necessary for life and normally occupying one-third of our lives, playing a fundamental role for physical, mental, and emotional health1. Sleep patterns and need are influenced by a complex interplay between chronological age, maturation stage, genetic, behavioral, environmental, and social factors2,3,4,5,6. Adults should sleep a minimum of 7 h per night to promote optimal health7,8.