Lifespan changes

Lifespan changes

Neonates; sleep for approx 16 hrs a day split over several different sleep periods. Two main types of sleep in neonates; Acitve sleep (similar to REM) and non-active sleep (similar to adult non-REM). In REM they are often resltess and move their limbs more than adults would. It is usually a 50:50 split however over the first few months the amount of active sleep decreases. By 20 months they have established a sleep/wake cycle where they are awake between 10am and 8pm
One year olds; by this age they sleep stages have become more similar to adult sleep stages. Total sleep is approx 13hrs a say and the length of a sleep stage cycle is 60 minutes. Naps have decreased to just one a day
Five year olds; brain activity resembles that of adults. Although, REM sleep still makes up about a third of sleep. The total amount of sleep is about 10 hours, with boys sleeping slightly longer. It is at this age sleepwalking may have become established
12 year olds; amount of sleep needed has decreased to 9hrs a day. Deep sleep becomes more common at the start of sleep. Amount of REM sleep drops to approx 25%. Pre-teens typically sleep very well,wake feeling full of energy and fully rested.
Adolescents; puberty marks changes in sleep that see the release of many hormones that change the way we sleep. Males may experience wet dreams and both genders may experience erotic dreams.
Sleep less than adolescents and do not experience the deep sleep associated with pre-teens and adolescents. 53% suffer with daytime drowsiness, although this may be caused by babies disturbing their sleep.
Middle age; shallowing and shortening of sleep may occur and fatigue becomes more common. Amount of deep sleep decreases resulting in less growth hormone released. This change may be linked to lifestyle changes. More alcohol is likely to be consumed which reduces the quality of sleep. weight problems can lead to sleep apnoea
Old age; there is a lack of deep sleep and very little growth hormone is released. Many suufer from disrupted sleep for reasons like needing the toliet. There are more likely to rise earlier and nap throughout the day. REM decreases to abut 20%
Floyd et al. (2001) reveiwed 400 sleep studies and found that the amount of REM sleep decreases throughtout life
There has been little research into the slleping patterns of middle aged. Dement believes that it is due to being busy with family, and career.
Dement (1999) reported that males aged 65-88 were likely to suffer from sleep apnoea, they woke for small 3 second intervals due to it. The number of times the males woke was between 200 to 1000 times a night. this supports the idea that the quality of sleep is reduced with age
Baird et al. found that women who had suffered from depression before getting pregnant were more likely to give birth to children who would suffer from sleep disturbances. The early sleep disturbances were associated with later behavioural problems and learning difficulties at age 3. suggesting that sleep problems could be impacted by the mothers state of mind prior to conception indicating that much more research needs to be conducted in this area.

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	Created by harry_bygraves almost 11 years ago