Frequent Night Wakings After 60? Experts Say It’s Often Normal
PARIS – Waking up multiple times during the night is a common experience as we age, and according to the National Institute of Sleep and vigilance (INSV), it’s often not a sign of insomnia. For individuals around 60 years old, experiencing between two and four night awakenings is considered frequent and generally doesn’t indicate a problem, the institute reports.
As we get older, sleep naturally becomes more fragmented. Dr. Joëlle Adrien, a neurobiologist and director of research at the INSV, explains, ”With age, sleep is fragmented naturally. The elderly spend less time in deep sleep and thier sleep cycles are shorter. The awakenings are therefore more frequent and longer. We must play down these awakenings and not consider them systematically as insomnia.” These awakenings can stem from simple physiological needs like needing to urinate, thirst, joint pain, or general discomfort.
These frequent awakenings can be attributed to natural changes in sleep architecture. The body spends less time in deep sleep, and sleep cycles shorten, leading to more frequent and prolonged periods of wakefulness throughout the night. “At 60, it is therefore not uncommon to wake up 2 to 4 times a night, due to physiological needs (desires to pee, thirst), pain or certain medical conditions (back pain, etc.),” experts note.
Though, the INSV advises consulting a doctor if awakenings exceed four per night, especially if accompanied by difficulties falling asleep, loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, or persistent daytime fatigue. In some cases, melatonin may help promote more stable sleep and limit age-related night awakenings, but a healthcare professional should assess its suitability for each individual.
