• Question: Why do humans need less sleep as they grow older?

    Asked by runellarun to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 18 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by EM26, Dm11.
    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 18 Nov 2015:

      Hi runellarun,

      That’s a brilliant question and one I’ve never thought of before.

      Apparently it’s not true – older adults need just as much sleep as younger ones. It’s a bit of a myth because as you get older you tend to sleep less at night but it’s thought this is for other reasons, aches and pains, needing to go to the loo etc. Some scientists have also shown that the part of the brain that tells you go do go sleep can get damaged as you age so the urge to sleep is less, even though your body needs it. As a result, you’ll often find older people end up ‘catching up’ that extra sleep with an afternoon nap.

    • Photo: Carolyn Nielsen

      Carolyn Nielsen answered on 18 Nov 2015:

      I am a big fan of naps..but not nearly as much as my parents!

      It’s certainly true though that babies and children need more sleep while they are still growing a lot. Once you are an adult though, I don’t think things change a huge amount.

      I think Richard is right and it’s more that the quality of sleep isn’t as good in older people, rather then that fact that they don’t need as much.

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