How does aging affect sleep quality?
-
Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Most of us require at least six hours of sleep a night, and usually seven to eight hours. When we are younger, we need more sleep, and the quality of our sleep is better. As we age, the quality of our sleep decreases. Our periods of "slow-wave sleep" - the kind of sleep needed to ensure mental alertness and motor coordination - decrease from one hundred fifty minutes a day to just twenty-five. These periods of slow-wave sleep are vitally important but don't occur until an hour and a half or more of continual sleep. Thus, if you are frequently awakened by some physical condition - for example, the need to urinate because of an enlarged prostate, a common problem in older men - or sleep apnea, you will not get the restorative sleep you need.Most of us require at least six hours of sleep a night, and usually seven to eight hours. When we are younger, we need more sleep, and the quality of our sleep is better. As we age, the quality of our sleep decreases. Our periods of "slow-wave... More -
Ben Kaminsky answered:Both the quantity and quality of sleep change significantly with aging. Usually, deep sleep (stages 3 and 4 or delta) declines with age, while light sleep (stage 1) increases. The number of arousals and the amount of wakefulness also increase in later years. Not surprisingly, young children have particularly large proportions of delta sleep, which increases if they are sleep deprived or very tired. This explains why trying to wake up a young child may be difficult. With the process of aging, environmental noise throughout the nighttime hours usually arouses older adults because of the smaller proportions of delta sleep.
Find out more about this book: Beyond Botox: 7 Strategies for Sexy, Ageless Skin Without Needles or Surger...
Both the quantity and quality of sleep change significantly with aging. Usually, deep sleep (stages 3 and 4 or delta) declines with age, while light sleep (stage 1) increases. The number of arousals and the amount of wakefulness also... More
