As we get older, several aspects of our lives change. While we need seven to eight hours of shut-eye each night to maintain tip-top health and performance, sleep doesn’t come easily for some, especially our elders.

Is it "Father Time?" Or is it time to see a sleep specialist?

Disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day are not parts of normal aging. If you’re struggling, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises a sleep specialist may help solve the problems.

More than 35 percent of the women and 13 percent of the men over 65 need more than a half-hour to fall asleep. And they are plagued with everything from insomnia to disorders that could wind up as heart attacks and strokes.

"Time stands still for no one,” says Dr. Ralph Downey, a specialist with Loma Linda University Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Center near Los Angeles. “However, with aging, our body clock acts a bit differently. We are less apt to sleep for long periods of time at night than teenagers.

“Rather, sleep is less deep, and we tend to sleep for shorter periods of time at night, with an increased likelihood of napping in the daytime."

Many explanations

The most common sleep disorders with older Americans include:

•  Insomnia, the most common sleep complaint, affecting almost half of adults 60 and older.

•  Obstructive sleep apnea, which can elevate the risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and problems with brain skills. Snoring, a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, affects 40 percent of adults – and is more common among older people.

•  Restless legs syndrome, where you experience uncomfortable tingling, “crawling,” or “pins and needles” in the legs. It affects more than 20 percent of people 80 and older.

•  Periodic limb movement disorder, a condition that causes people to jerk and kick their legs every 20-40 seconds during sleep. One study found that roughly 40 percent of older adults have at least a mild form of the condition.

Downey says there are many possible explanations for why older adults have more problems sleeping.

For one, their bodies often produce and secrete less melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. Then, just about anything in their environment, such as noise, will awaken them.
 
Still others may suffer from undiagnosed medical and psychiatric problems that can affect  sleep, Downey added.

Leading to more problems

According to the journal Sleep, some interesting findings about older persons and sleep emerge:

•  Longer bouts with insomnia are more common in older people.

•  Older people are more likely to take sedatives that have particular problems with addiction and side effects.

•  The declining sleep quality and quantity can affect a healthy older man’s level of testosterone in the morning.

•  A brief behavioral treatment for insomnia appears to be a promising intervention for older adults who suffer from insomnia.

Downey warns that not sleeping well can lead to numerous problems. Older adults who have poor nighttime sleep are more likely to have a depressed mood, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, more nighttime falls, and use more over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids.

In addition, recent studies associate lack of sleep with serious health problems such as an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

"Don't assume it is just 'Father Time'," Downey warns.