If your mother has told you she hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep since you were born, you’re not alone. It is almost universally accepted that poor sleep and advancing age go hand in hand.
But growing research suggests that getting older may not necessarily mean getting less sleep. Scientists suspect that sleep problems in many older people in North America and elsewhere may be a symptom of underlying illness, not simply aging.
In a study published this month in the journal Sleep, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania studied the sleep habit and fatigue levels of over 100,000 people. The research indicated that disturbed sleep was linked with poor general health and depression. And although there appeared to be a slight increase in sleep problems during middle age, most 80-somethings reported fewer sleep issues than most 50 year olds.
Another study has indicated that older people could withstand sleep deprivation better than their younger counterparts.
Researchers say that sleep problems may be chalked up to illness or to the side effects of certain medications, and should see a physician.
