Not Sleeping Like You Used To? How Sleep Patterns Shift in Your 40s and 50s July 25, 2025 Not Sleeping Like You Used To? How Sleep Patterns Shift in Your 40s and 50s If you’ve noticed your sleep isn’t what it used to be, you’re not alone. Many people in their 40s and 50s find it harder to fall asleep, wake up more often during the night, and rise earlier in the morning than they did in their younger years.1 While the total amount of sleep most adults need (around seven to eight hours a night) doesn’t actually change much with age, how we sleep does.1 Why Does Sleep Change as We Age? Your body has an internal clock - a collection of brain cells known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - which helps regulate your daily rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.1 As we age, this clock naturally changes and can shift our sleep schedule earlier, a phenomenon called “phase advance.”1 This explains why you may feel sleepy earlier in the evening and wake up before the sun rises. Older adults also spend less time in deep, restorative sleep and more time in lighter sleep stages.2 That’s why many people report waking three or four times during the night or feeling like they’re “lighter sleepers” than before.2 Other factors can worsen sleep quality as we age, such as lower production of melatonin, less exposure to daylight, and medical conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease.1 Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, and the side effects of medications (especially when taking five or more different prescriptions, which 40% of people over 65 do) can also disrupt sleep.1 Common Sleep Issues in Your 40s and 50s Between 40% and 70% of older adults experience chronic sleep problems, and up to half of these may go undiagnosed.1 Some of the most common issues include: Insomnia: Trouble falling or staying asleep. Sleep Apnea: Breathing pauses during sleep, affecting 22–54% of older people.3 Restless Legs Syndrome: An uncomfortable urge to move your legs at night, affecting up to 20% of older adults.3 Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Around 20% of older adults feel unusually sleepy during the day, often linked to underlying health conditions.3 What You Can Do Small changes can make a big difference. Keeping regular sleep and wake times, getting morning sunlight, staying active, and limiting long or late naps can all help.3 If you’re feeling tired all day, your sleep is affecting your mood or concentration, or your partner notices pauses in your breathing, don’t brush it off as “just getting older.” There are effective treatments for insomnia, sleep apnea, and other conditions that could be interfering with your rest. If poor sleep is affecting your quality of life, speak to your doctor. Getting the right help can restore your energy, improve your health, and help you feel like yourself again. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References Newsom, Rob, and John DeBanto. “Aging and Sleep: How Does Growing Old Affect Sleep?” Sleep Foundation, 18 Mar. 2022, www.sleepfoundation.org/aging-and-sleep. MedlinePlus. “Aging Changes in Sleep: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” Medlineplus.gov, 2017, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004018.htm. “Ageing & Sleep | Sleep Health Foundation.” Www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au, www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/ageing-sleep.
