Sleep Patterns Important for Older Adults, Study Finds

Research in Scientific Reports from 2018 found seniors with irregular sleep patterns weighed more, had higher blood sugar and blood pressure, and an elevated projected risk of heart attack or stroke within 10 years, compared to those who went to sleep and woke up at the same times every day, according to KOMO 4 News . Those exhibiting irregular sleep patterns also were more likely to report depression and stress than regular sleepers. Both conditions are linked to heart health. However, these findings fail to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between regular sleep and cardiovascular health. The researchers did observe that seniors with irregular sleep patterns experienced more sleepiness during the day and were less active, possibly because of tiredness.