September 15, 2023 – Older adults sleep best when the room temperature is 70 to 74 degrees, in response to a recent study.
For the study, published online within the journal Science of the entire environmentResearchers from 2021 to 2023 investigated this Sleep habits of fifty people age 65 and older within the Boston area. Environmental sensors were placed of their bedrooms to observe nighttime temperatures, and participants within the study wore a hoop connected to a smartphone to measure how long they slept and the way much they tossed and turned. The monitors also tracked respiratory, heart rate and body temperature.
The researchers concluded that sleep was “most efficient and restful” when the nighttime ambient temperature fluctuated between 68 and 77 degrees. As the temperature rose from 77 to 86 degrees, sleep efficiency decreased by 5 to 10%.
“We found that the actual peak of sleep – where it is most restorative – is in the 70 to 74 range,” said Dr. Amir Baniassadi, lead writer of the study and postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and the Marcus Institute for Aging Research, tells The Washington Post. “If we were to suggest an optimal range based on our results, which I am generally hesitant to do, it would have to be between 70 and 74.”
Sleep efficiency also decreased when the temperature dropped below 68 degrees. There was a whole lot of room for variation between people.
The results are particularly relevant against the background of climate change, in response to the study.
“In addition, our study highlights the potential impact of climate change on the sleep quality of older adults, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status, and supports improving their adaptability in the face of a changing climate,” the researchers write.
This study was different from other sleep studies which might be either conducted in a laboratory or based on self-reported sleep behavior post noted.
The CDC says About a 3rd of Americans sleep lower than the advisable amount. Adults should get 7 or more hours per night, and folks over 65 should get 7 to eight hours per night.
The CDC recommends that folks go to bed and get up at the identical time every single day, keep the bedroom dark and at a snug temperature, remove electronic devices from the bedroom and avoid large meals, alcohol and caffeine before bed.