All these can have an effect on sleep patterns. In Dr. Morin's study referred to at the beginning of this article 78 men and women, aged 55 and above were used in the trial group. All had difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep, at least 3 nights a week for at least 6 months, and had complained of daytime fatigue, impaired functioning or mood disturbances that they attributed to loss of sleep. Subjects who received weekly 90 minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, a trial of the sleeping pill Restoril, or a combination of the therapy and Restoril all showed significant improvement in their sleep patterns at the end of the 8 week treatment period. In summary, be aware that as we get older our sleep patterns change.
Deep sleep begins to be replaced by longer periods of lighter sleep after age thirty.
Adults tend to wake up during the night more. This is neither good nor bad. It is normal. Before you assume that you are not getting enough sleep, keep a 24-hour sleep log for a week. Record when you go to bed, how long you sleep, how often you remember waking, how long it takes you to fall asleep again and when and how long you take naps during the day.