Aging Changes in Sleep
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Aging changes
With aging, sleep patterns tend to change. Most people find that aging causes them to have a harder time falling asleep, and that they awaken more often.
Total sleep time remains the same or is slightly decreased (6.5 to 7 hours per night). It may be harder to fall asleep. The transition between sleep and awake is often abrupt, giving older people the feeling of being more of a "light sleeper" than when they were younger.
Less time is spent in deep, dreamless sleep. Older people average 3 or 4 awakenings each night, with increased recall of being awake.
Awakenings are related to less time spent in deep sleep, and to factors such as need to get up to urinate (nocturia), anxiety, and discomfort or pain associated with chronic illnesses.
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