Overview

Sleep problems become more common with age. Sleep time, depth and efficiency decrease and older people can experience a shift in their sleep–wake cycle resulting in earlier sleep onset and morning waking—see Advanced sleep–wake phase disorder. These normal changes can be misconstrued as pathological—see Recommended sleep times for healthy adults for recommended sleep times throughout life.

As people age, they may become less active and mobile and have less exposure to natural light, all of which decrease sleep drive. Reduced social contact and lack of routine can also contribute to sleep problems. Older people are more likely to have comorbidities or take prescribed drugs that affect sleep—see Contributing or causative factors for insomnia. Insomnia can contribute to depression, poor quality of life, cognitive impairment and increase risk of falls.