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According to their internal body clock, most older adults need to go to sleep around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and wake up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Many people fight their natural inclination to sleep and choose to go to bed several hours later instead.

sleepfoundation.org - How Circadian Rhythms Change as We Age | Sleep Foundation

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How Age Affects Your Circadian Rhythm Written by Danielle Pacheco, Staff Writer Danielle Pacheco Staff Writer Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia. Read Full Bio Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Learn About The Editorial Team Medically Reviewed by Dr. Anis Rehman, Endocrinologist Dr. Anis Rehman Endocrinologist Dr. Rehman, M.D., is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. Read Full Bio Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Learn About The Editorial Team Fact Checked Learn More Sleep Foundation Fact-Checking: Our Process At Sleep Foundation, we personally test every product featured in our reviews and guides. This hands-on approach allows us to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations for mattresses, pillows, sheets, and other sleep essentials. Guidelines for our testing methodology are as follows: We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners. All scientific data and information must be backed up by at least one reputable source. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources. Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information. A member of our medical expert team provides a final review of the content and sources cited for every guide, article, and product review concerning medical- and health-related topics. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication. Plagiarism is never tolerated. Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s) Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. Read our full Advertising Disclosure for more information. Our team of writers, editors, and medical experts rigorously evaluates each article to ensure the information is accurate and exclusively cites reputable sources. We regularly assess how the content in this article aligns with current scientific literature and expert recommendations in order to provide the most up-to-date research. For most people, sleep-wake cycles follow the sun. As daylight breaks and temperatures get warmer, we wake up. As darkness falls, core body temperature drops and the body produces a hormone called melatonin that promotes sleep. This daily pattern is known as the circadian rhythm and it is managed by a master clock in the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Located in the hypothalamus, the SCN tells our body when to sleep, when to eat, and when to be the most active, based on cues such as light and temperature. Circadian rhythms shift throughout our lifespan, peaking in lateness during adolescence Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and then gradually shifting back as we age. Changes to the circadian rhythm are a common cause of sleep problems in older adults.

How Do Our Circadian Rhythms Change with Age?

Starting at age 60 to 65, circadian rhythms get earlier Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . Known as a phase advance, this shift means that older adults perform mental tasks Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov better in the morning and start to get sleepy earlier in the evening. The changes are gradual, with circadian rhythm shifting by approximately half an hour every decade Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov beginning in middle age. Research also shows that circadian rhythm timing in older adults is more delicate, leading to fitful sleep if they don’t sleep within certain times. According to their internal body clock, most older adults need to go to sleep around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and wake up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Many people fight their natural inclination to sleep and choose to go to bed several hours later instead. Unfortunately, the body clock still kicks in and sends a wake-up call around 3 a.m., resulting in disturbed sleep from that point onward.

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In terms of sleep quality, older adults spend more time in light sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and less time in deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Light sleep is less restful, so the average older adult will wake up three or four times a night. It’s common for older adults to wake up and fall asleep Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. medlineplus.gov more suddenly compared to younger adults, leading to the feeling that you are spending most of the night awake. Daytime naps are a common coping mechanism for inadequate sleep. However, daytime napping might make it even harder to fall asleep at night. They push bedtime back and set the stage for another sleepless night — and so the cycle continues. On the whole, older adults get much less sleep on average than younger adults, even though their sleep needs are actually the same. Most older adults sleep only six-and-a-half to seven hours a night, falling short of the recommended seven to eight hours Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . Older adults also seem to have more trouble adapting to new sleep rhythms, so changes to their schedule might be more difficult to manage. Sleep deprivation can make you tired, confused, and even depressed, symptoms which may be mistaken for dementia or other disorders. While it’s normal to experience sleep problems as you age, severe changes to your circadian rhythm may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov .

The Science Behind Aging and Circadian Rhythms

Researchers still don’t know for sure why the circadian rhythm shifts earlier as we age, but it’s likely a combination of biological and environmental factors. In later adulthood, outside cues for the circadian rhythm appear to become less effective. Researchers believe that certain clock genes may lose their rhythm Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and be replaced with other genes that act a little differently. Based on studies in mice, researchers also suspect the SCN in humans may become weaker, leading to less pronounced fluctuations in the circadian rhythm. In turn, less melatonin is produced at night, so older adults may experience less of a distinction between sleep and wake. This results in sleeping less soundly at night and feeling sleepier throughout the day. Since light plays such a critical role in regulating the circadian rhythm, many studies have focused on how light exposure changes as we age. It may be that aging eyes don’t let as much light in Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov , particularly the short-wave light Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov that is important for regulating the circadian rhythm. It might also be that we spend less time outdoors and more time in weak artificial light, which is not as effective at controlling our sleep-wake cycle. Cataract surgery Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov lets more light into the eyes and seems to improve sleep quality. Additional considerations apply to residents of care homes, as they may spend less time outside in the sunlight and tend to be less active. Adults staying in long-term institutions may find themselves disturbed by noise and light during the night, especially if they share a room with someone else. Compared with more independent adults, care home residents are more likely to suffer from poor sleep and may spend most of the day drifting in and out of sleep.

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How To Cope With Changing Circadian Rhythms as We Age

It is very difficult to fight the natural inclination of your body to sleep at certain times, so the easiest way to get better sleep as you age may be to shift your sleeping pattern earlier. You may be able to achieve sounder sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Getting more light during the day may help you sleep through the night. If you prefer to go to sleep later, try not to get too much light in the morning hours. Instead, go for an evening walk or use light therapy later in the day. This can help delay the release of melatonin and “trick” your body into delaying your bedtime. An easy way to improve sleep is by adopting sleep hygiene habits that strengthen the circadian rhythm and create a mental association between bed and sleep. To start sleeping better, experts recommend:

Keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet

Avoiding and limiting alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco after lunch

Avoiding liquids and large meals before bed

Keeping naps to a maximum of 30 minutes

Eating a healthy diet Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Getting daily exercise, preferably outside

Turning off the TV and other screens an hour before bed

Keeping the bed for sleeping and sex only

Getting out of bed and doing something else if you can’t sleep

You should also make it a priority to treat any underlying sleep disorders or other conditions such as chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, or prostate disorders. Talk to your doctor to see if you can adjust your medication schedule to minimize the effects on your sleep. In the short term, your doctor may prescribe melatonin supplements or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to help re-establish a healthy sleep pattern. If you're ready for more ⟶ sign up to receive our email newsletter! Your privacy is important to us. Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Was this article helpful? Yes No Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Submitting your Answer... About Our Editorial Team Danielle Pacheco Staff Writer Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Anis Rehman Endocrinologist MD Dr. Rehman, M.D., is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.

sleepfoundation.org - How Circadian Rhythms Change as We Age | Sleep Foundation

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