How does aging typically affect sleep patterns?

As individuals age, their sleep patterns undergo significant changes. One of the most documented effects of aging is that older adults tend to experience lighter and more fragmented sleep. This means that their sleep may be less restorative and more easily disturbed by external factors compared to younger individuals.

This phenomenon can be attributed to several physiological changes that occur with aging. For instance, older adults may experience a decrease in the amount of deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, which is crucial for physical restoration. Instead, they may spend more time in lighter sleep stages. Additionally, factors such as health conditions, medication side effects, and increased prevalence of sleep disorders (like insomnia or sleep apnea) can contribute to these disturbances.

In contrast, while some may think that aging has no effect on sleep patterns or that older adults require more sleep, research consistently shows that the amount and quality of sleep can decline with age, rather than increase. Thus, the relationship between aging and sleep is characterized by a shift toward lighter and more disrupted sleep patterns.