Aging is a natural process that has profound repercussions for both body and brain. One key change with ageing is its effect on sleep; many report having difficulty falling asleep at night and awakening frequently throughout the night; this often results in low energy, decreased motivation and an increasing need for restful slumber.
However, while some changes are normal, others can be telltale signs of other health conditions or disorders, including medical comorbidities, psychiatric illness or primary sleep disorders. Factors which could interfere with quality sleep include frequent night urination (nocturia), medications taken before bedtime (such as antihistamines), change in social engagement/environment/lifestyle choices/ lifestyle or increased stress levels.
2406 healthy individuals participated in a large study, answering questions regarding their perceived sleep quality and taking tests that assessed physical, cognitive, mental, and neural health. Latent class analysis was used to identify distinct patterns of self-reported sleep problems that varied by lifespan – suggesting that age-related sleep changes cannot be adequately captured with global PSQI sum scores alone; specific patterns that correlate to particular health domains would help facilitate targeted interventions for older adults.