Factors involved in sleep satisfaction in the elderly

It is pointed out that sleep satisfaction is preserved in healthy elderly individuals despite the worsening of quantitative night-time sleep features, reflected by the increase of afternoon naps.

Abstract

These findings point out that sleep satisfaction is preserved in healthy elderly individuals despite the worsening of quantitative night-time sleep features, reflected by the increase of afternoon naps. This discrepancy could be explained by changes in sleep satisfaction determinants, towards which a spontaneous adaptive adjustment is likely to occur in aged subjects. In contrast with young adults, elderly subjects heed the freshness perceived after the awakening and pay little attention to frequent night-time awakenings.