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Yes, research shows that sleep changes as people get older. It might take longer to fall asleep or it might be harder to stay asleep. There can be changes to sleep architecture like spending more time in light sleep and less time in REM sleep. There can also be changes to circadian rhythms like going to bed earlier or waking up earlier. Insomnia is very common as people age, but can often be because of medical or mental health problems and treatments, sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome), poor sleep hygiene, or a combination of all these factors.
Research also shows that many age-related sleep changes happen earlier than you might expect. One study looked at sleep patterns of people between 20 and 59 years old. It found big differences between the younger and older people. The older people went to bed and woke up earlier, were in bed for less time, spent less time asleep, and woke up more often. They also had lower quality sleep, less deep and REM sleep, and more light sleep. The study found that many of these differences were related to circadian rhythm changes.
