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ASU study: Middle age and older adults struggle with sleep

After examining data from two federal studies, researchers concluded nearly 40% of people born in the 1950s and '60s struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Arizona State University researchers Connor Sheehan and Frank Infurna think it’s because middle-aged and older adults are juggling numerous roles, including caring for aging parents and partners. They found adults over 50 reported worse mental and physical health today compared to the same age group in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The National Institutes of Health say poor sleep raises the risk of many diseases and disorders while good sleep improves brain performance, mood and health.

Sheehan and Infurna relied on data collected from more than 191,000 people who participated in the National Health Interview Survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Health and Retirement Study done by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion between 2006 and 2018. 

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As a senior field correspondent, Christina Estes focuses on stories that impact our economy, your wallet and public policy.