Need for sleep 'diminishes with age'

Need for sleep 'diminishes with age'

The total amount of sleep needed each night diminishes as people get older, new research indicates.

A study conducted by researchers at the Clinical Research Centre of the University of Surrey and published in the February 1st issue of the Sleep journal, found that older adults slept for around 20 minutes less than middle-aged adults, who in turn slept for more than 20 minutes less than young adults.

The study found that the older adults also suffered less from daytime sleepiness.

Principal investigator Professor Derk-Jan Dijk said: "Our findings reaffirm the theory that it is not normal for older people to be sleepy during the daytime."

He added that being sleepy during the day could signify that one does not get enough sleep or suffers from a sleep disorder.

Such findings may have an impact on the treatment of insomnia in older adults, the researchers believe, as such individuals may be unaware of their reduced sleep need.

Besides insomnia, conditions such as sleep apnoea can also have an effect on the length and quality of an individual's sleep. The Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust notes that the disorder can be a key cause of daytime sleepiness.