A general decline in the dream recall frequency is commonly reported in the elderly, and it is explained in terms of a diminished interest in dreaming and in its emotional salience. Although empirical evidence is not yet available, an alternative hypothesis associates this reduction to an age-related cognitive decline.
Women are more likely to report bright colorful dreams while men report fewer or no colors. During senescence, men and women report more reflective dreaming with scenes of loved ones both living and dead.
Everyone dreams anywhere from 3 to 6 times each night. Dreaming is normal and a healthy part of sleeping. Dreams are a series of images, stories, emotions and feelings that occur throughout the stages of sleep. The dreams that you remember happen during the REM cycle of sleep.
How dreams change in older age. Several people had noticed a change in the amount or frequency of their dreams. Most said they dream a lot more now, or were actually more aware of dreaming now than they used to be.
Compared with younger adults, the elderly spend more time in bed but have deterioration in both the quality and quantity of sleep. All of these changes can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, which in turn can lead to intentional and unintentional napping.
It can be a normal response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep, but it can also signal a more serious mental or physical condition.
Healthy dreaming may be indicative of quality sleep that facilitates sharper thinking, better mood, and overall health. People who remember their dreams often show higher levels of creativity. View Source .
If you are going through a period of extensive dreaming and you're waking up exhausted, then your focus needs to be on what is happening in your days, rather than your nights. Remember, it's the emotional thoughts we have during the day that we need to dream out at night. The more emotional thoughts, the more dreams!
Researchers believe it either reflects or contributes to healthy sleep. If you rarely or never dream, that may indicate you're sleep-deprived. However, other factors affect dream recall, so you should talk with your doctor.
Some believe dreams have symbolic meaning, whereas others believe that they relate to waking life. What scientists do know is that just about everyone dreams every time they sleep, and those dreams can be fascinating, exciting, terrifying, or just plain weird.
Middle aged men and women who have troubling dreams at least once a week are at increased risk of cognitive decline years down the road, a new report suggests. Frequent nightmares in seniors may also signal an increased risk of dementia, the study found.
Sleep and Aging
Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, older people tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than they did when they were younger. There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night.
"A range of sleep disorders is associated with dementia, especially Lewy body dementia," he said. "These sleep disorders include restless legs syndrome and visual hallucinations, as well as vivid dreaming and nightmares."
Yes, depressed people tend to dream more. In fact, one study found that people who are depressed can dream up to three times more than people who are not depressed.
Dreaming sleep is a deep stage of sleep with intense brain activity in the forebrain and midbrain. It is characterized by the ability of dreams to occur, along with the absence of motor function with the exception of the eye muscles and the diaphragm.
Remembering your dreams doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how restful your sleep is, Dr. Harris says. Instead, recalling those dreams is a lot more likely to depend on a number of factors, from your current level of stress to the medication you're taking.
"Dreams are often about identity, because we're figuring out who we are and what we need, and the beliefs and perspectives we hold," says Wallace. "If you feel unfulfilled, undervalued or not the person you want to be in waking life, your dreams will often reflect that.
Traditionally, the “elderly” are considered to be those persons age 65 and older.
Fatigue in older adults sometimes occurs as a result of chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other chronic conditions. Your body may tire itself out from trying to manage the pain or inflammation, and living with chronic pain can also lead to mental or emotional fatigue.
However, most people start experiencing a decline in their energy levels by the time they reach their mid-thirties. And this decline in energy levels can be attributed to various factors, including changes in metabolism, hormonal changes, and lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress.
Boredom, depression, chronic pain and/or nutritional deficiencies can be some of the underlying causes that account for excessive daytime sleeping. Medications can also be a problem.