Sleep Problems

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Causes

Common Sleep Problems among Older Adults

Insomnia

Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. It can cause:

  • Fatigue
  • Sleepiness during the day
  • Poor concentration
  • Worry about sleep

A person is said to have insomnia when they have sleep problems at least 3 times a week for at least 3 months.

People with insomnia often have mental health problems, such as depression.

Sleep Apnea

A person with sleep apnea stops breathing or does not breathe well while sleeping. The lack of oxygen causes the person to partly wake up.

Untreated sleep apnea raises the risk of:

  • Memory and thinking problems, and dementia è make this first!
  • High blood pressure and stroke
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
  • Heart attack
  • Car crashes
Types of sleep apnea
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This happens when the airway becomes blocked during sleep. The person often snores loudly, then may snort or choke. They may not know they are waking up during the night.
  • Central sleep apnea. This causes a person to stop breathing during sleep. It often happens in people who have had a stroke, or who take opioid pain medicines.

Symptoms of sleep apnea may include:

  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Memory and thinking problems
  • High blood pressure
  • Frequent urination at night

Restless Leg Syndrome

People with Restless Leg Syndrome feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs and a strong urge to move them. Symptoms usually happen in the evening or at night, when lying down or sitting. Moving the legs often helps. This syndrome is often linked to:

  • Low iron levels in the blood
  • Kidney disease
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
  • Some medicines

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Your body has an internal clock that controls when you sleep and wake. Sometimes this internal clock does not match the normal 24-hour day. When this happens, a person may fall asleep too early and wake up too early. This type of sleep problem often happens in people with dementia, and in people who live in nursing homes.

 

Last Updated May 2026

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