Newswise — One of the hallmarks of aging is difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. On average, younger adults may wake up briefly five times a night. But some people over age 60 may wake up as many as 150 times while sleeping.
Insomnia has far more serious consequences than feeling groggy in the morning – it can also lead to depression, with lack of sleep doubling the risk. As depression is more common for those with chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, older adults may be at increased risk. Research led by Michael Irwin, MD, is the first to examine the mechanisms of the interaction between insomnia and depression in seniors.
The study found that older adults who are chronically sleep deprived not only are at greater risk, but symptoms are worse and more prolonged. “Older people who have insomnia show a very exaggerated risk of becoming depressed,” said Dr. Irwin, the Norman Cousins Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
“The data are just really remarkable: it’s a several-fold greater increase in the incidence of depression. And the longer the insomnia lasts, the greater likelihood of becoming depressed, even for those who have never been depressed before.” Insomnia, inflammation and depression Inflammation can also lead to depression, and Dr.
Irwin and his collaborators have found that an “inflammatory challenge,” similar to an infection, can .
