July 8, 2005

Sleep and older adults

It is a fact of life that everybody needs sleep. While the average adult needs approximately seven hours of sleep, some can function on less than five hours and others need nine hours or more. As adults get older, adequate sleep can be hard to achieve. To offer helpful tips to local seniors about sleep and sleep disorders, MGH Senior HealthWISE hosted "Sleep and Older Adults" June 28 in the Walcott Conference Rooms.

Guest speaker John W. Stakes, MD, of MGH Neurology and the Sleep Disorders Clinic, (left) spoke to the crowd about the history of sleep, the many causes of insomnia, daytime sleepiness and how to avoid it, and unusual causes of sleep disruptions such as nocturnal seizures, restless limbs and acting out dreams in sleep. "With aging, the deep sleep the body needs happens less frequently," said Stakes. "The body is more easily aroused by internal and environmental stimuli, and the length of sleep also shortens."

The most important piece of advice Stakes shared with the group is to discuss sleep issues with a physician. "Not enough doctors ask their patients how they've been sleeping,"said Stakes. "Many sleep issues can be easily cured if the patient seeks help."