What is the reason for reduced sleep

Sleep is very important for everyone. Sufficient sleep will make people in a better mental state. If you lack sleep for a long time, it will have a great impact on your physical health. However, with age, people will not fall asleep as easily as when they were young. The older they are, the less sleep they get. In the eyes of most people, they think it is normal for the elderly to sleep less. In fact, it may be caused by disease.

What causes sleep loss in the elderly?

1. Slow metabolism

Unlike young people, older people’s metabolism becomes slower, so the time they need to sleep will be relatively shorter, but only a little shorter. According to the latest research recommendations of the American Sleep Foundation, generally speaking, people aged 19-64 should sleep 7-9 hours, while the elderly over 64 years old should sleep 7-8 hours.

2. Difficulty falling asleep

Many times, we think that “old people sleep less” but it is actually because they have difficulty falling asleep. As they age, some elderly people often have difficulty falling asleep due to discomfort such as cramps and dreaming. Even if you fall asleep, you are likely to wake up in the middle of the night, affecting your sleep quality.

3. Brain system degeneration

The brain system of older people usually degenerates, but because the pineal gland in the brain shrinks, and the pineal gland helps coordinate the relationship between day and night, the sleep rhythm is disrupted, making it more difficult to get enough sleep.

4. Affected by light

I believe many people know that one of the factors that affects our body's circadian rhythm is light. However, for the elderly, because their physical fitness is not as good as before, they often lack outdoor activities; secondly, with age, various organs of the body begin to degenerate, including the eyes, which will affect their circadian rhythm.

5. Impact of diseases

As we age, our bodies are more prone to various problems, and the sleep of the elderly is often affected by certain diseases. Common diseases include sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, etc.

6. Mental factors

Due to various reasons, today's elderly people are more likely to experience depression or depressive moods. They are also more likely to experience feelings of loss, anxiety, nostalgia, etc. in life, which often lead to insomnia. So it seems that the elderly do not need to sleep that long.