Health Tip: Why Some Seniors Can't Sleep

Fewer 'sleep hormones' produced as we age

July 27, 2012 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- Older adults still need seven or eight hours of sleep each night to feel rested and refreshed in the morning. But getting that much sleep poses a challenge for many elderly people.

The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these common causes of sleep problems among seniors:

Age-associated changes in the sleep-wake cycle.
Age-associated reduction in the body's production of "sleep hormones," such as melatonin.
Smoking and increased consumption of alcohol or caffeine.
Pain or illness.
Taking certain medications.
Disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.