More than half of women aged 55-64 years say they sleep poorly at least a few times per week according to the NSF’s 2007 Sleep in America poll. Women and their physicians often attribute sleep problems in mid-life to hormonal changes related to menopause. Now a recent analysis of data from NSF’s ‘scientific workshop on women and sleep’ finds that stress and caring for ageing relatives may keep women from their sleep as they get older. It was also revealed that sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Restless legs syndrome are also affecting women at higher rates in later life.
JAMA vol 297(17) May 2, 2007