The Wall Street Journal
Combat the Sleep Problems That Hit in Middle Age
About 55% of Americans ages 40 to 49 and about 58% of those ages 50 to 64 have “low general sleep health,” which includes not sleeping the recommended seven to nine hours a night, not feeling well-rested and having trouble falling or staying asleep, according to 2023 survey data from the National Sleep Foundation, a nonprofit group. Starting in our 20s, the amount of deep sleep we get during the night starts to decline, says Philip Gehrman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. This deep sleep, which is especially restorative rest, is particularly important for repairing muscle and bone and strengthening our immune systems, says Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, associate professor in the department of neurology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, who treats sleep disorders.