Older Adults Lack Stage IV Sleep

As we get older, our sleep pattern changes. The change is not in the hours of sleep we get, but in the kind of sleep we get.

The stages of the sleep cycle affected most is stage IV, the phase of deep and restorative sleep. This is deficient in seniors and the elderly. While the average adult experiences stage IV sleep about twice per night, this is decreased and even absent in older adults.

It is important to note, however, that while sleep patterns do change as we age, disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day are not part of normal aging. Troubled sleep may be a sign of emotional or physical disorders and something one should discuss with a doctor or sleep specialist.

Sleep pattern changes, frequently reported by older adults, include:

- Sleeping less
- Waking up more frequently
- Getting less deep sleep
- Experiencing more daytime tiredness, and
taking more naps during the day