Impact of Poor Sleep on Physical and Mental Health in Older Women

Many aspects of sleep and circadian rhythms change as people age. Older adults usually experience a decrease in sleep duration and efficiency, an increase in sleep latency and fragmentation, a high prevalence of sleep disorders, and weakened rest-activity rhythms. Research evidence suggests that women are more likely to report aging-related sleep problems. This article presents epidemiologic and clinical evidence on the relationships between sleep deficiency and physical and mental outcomes in older women, explores potential mechanisms underlying such relationships, points out gaps in the literature that warrant future investigations, and considers implications in clinical and public health settings.