Judite Blanc, PhD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discusses how total sleep needs vary among ages and the consequences of these changing hourly totals.
In this interview from SLEEP 2023, Judite Blanc, PhD, research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences, discusses how total sleep needs vary among ages and the consequences of these changing hourly totals.
Transcript
What are key differences in sleep patterns, requirements, and challenges between children and adults?
We know already that sleep between children, adolescents, and adults is a matter of need; they don't [require] the same amount of sleep. For example, children in infants, it's about 17 hours of sleep that they have. After 4 months, it's about 14 to 15 [hours]. By the age of 4, it decreases to 11 hours; and [for] school-aged children, it's about 9 to 10. Adolescents, it's about 9. And then between adolescence and adult age, it's 7 to 8, and then all the adults, it's [about] 7 to 9 hours of sleep needed. We also know that in terms of the stages, for example, children, they spend more time in slow-wave sleep, which is the most important sleep you need.
But because of environmental demand, because of stress, there's also a gender influence in this. We know women tend to spend less time [and] have less access to slow-wave sleep. And we believe that this is probably due to hormonal modification and also the stress of life, the caregiving factor, social demand. And all adults, as they age they have more difficulty remaining deep sleep. We wake up easily.
And then in terms of the consequences of sleep problem by age: Children, again, when you're a kid, you spend most of your time at school. So if they are having poor sleep quality, this is the first domain that will be impacted—school performance, difficulty focusing in school. We have data showing that they are more hyperactive, they have greater issues of attention deficit and also mood issues. More and more, we are observing that in children and adolescents that are sleep deprived, they are also at greater risk of anxiety and depression and even more chronic diseases.
Compared with adults, there are similarities in terms of areas impacted between children and adults. When it comes to us [adults], we also have issue with memory, to memorize information. Poor sleep among adults is also associated with cognitive decline, chronic diseases, dementia. It's a matter of the chronicity: How long have you been sleep deprived? Whether the sleep issue went undiagnosed.
And among adults also, we have overwhelming data showing chronic diseases such as metabolic disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, even cancer, those chronic diseases, catastrophic illnesses, they are associated with poor sleep health among adults.
Dr Kathy Zackowski Discusses the Importance of Rehabilitation Research and Trials in MS
April 26th 2024Kathy Zackowski, PhD, National MS Society, expresses the inherent value of quality rehabilitation trials for broadening clinical understandings of multiple sclerosis (MS) and bettering patient outcomes.
Read More
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Mental Health Diagnoses, Care Challenges Rise Among US Youth, Report Finds
April 26th 2024While behavioral health care utilization has been rising, the treatment landscape has been worsening. New findings show that 20% of youths did not receive any form of treatment within 3 months of their initial behavioral health diagnosis.
Read More
Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
Listen
Dr Dalia Rotstein: Physicians Must Be Aware MS Affects People of All Backgrounds
April 24th 2024Dalia Rotstein, MD, MPH, emphazises the importance of awareness that multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts patients from various backgrounds as clinicians think through ways to improve access to care and research efforts in MS.
Read More