What characterizes the sleep pattern of older adults?

Older adults often experience a distinctive sleep pattern characterized by more frequent and longer awakenings throughout the night. As people age, they may have changes in the structure and architecture of their sleep cycles, leading to increased sleep fragmentation. This results in being more easily aroused and having a tendency to wake up multiple times during the night, which can contribute to feelings of unrestfulness and fatigue during the day.

The tendency for longer awakenings can be attributed to various factors, including age-related changes in sleep regulation, medical conditions, or medications that may interfere with the sleep cycle. This pattern can lead to a perception of poor sleep quality, even if the total duration of sleep does not significantly decrease.

Other options present different aspects of sleep that do not accurately reflect the typical changes seen in older adults' sleep patterns. For instance, the amount of deep sleep tends to decrease with age, rather than increase, and while older adults may require less sleep on average, it doesn't mean they experience less light sleep, as light sleep usually occupies a significant portion of the sleep cycle at any age.