Elderly Sleep Woes Linked to Increased Suicide Risk

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When people reported suffering from non-restorative sleep, for instance, Bernert said, "They were almost twice as likely to complete suicide compared to those without this particular sleep complaint. This relationship existed even after controlling for depression."

However, she added, because the number of suicide victims in this study was small, the finding should be interpreted with caution, and more research is needed to investigate specific sleep complaints in the prediction of suicide.

How might sleep problems impact suicide risk?

"It's pure speculation, but sleep may play an important role in regulating moods," Bernert said. Having insufficient sleep can adversely affect someone's mood, she said.

Insomnia, the most common sleep complaint, affects approximately 48 percent of older adults, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Older adults should get seven or eight hours of sleep a night, Bernert said, but many report that they have trouble falling asleep and so get less sleep than they need. Some problems associated with sleeplessness include memory and attention problems, depressed moods, excessive daytime drowsiness, more nighttime falls and reliance on over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids.

If an older person is having sleep problems, they shouldn't assume it's just an inevitable part of aging, Bernert added.

"It's important for each individual to see a sleep specialist," she said, because treatment is available and effective.

More information

Find out more on aging and sleep at The National Sleep Foundation.