The idea that older people need less sleep may actually be a myth. Based on a series of European studies, researchers have speculated that older adults are getting less sleep due to undiagnosed insomnia. “On average older people sleep for a shorter time than their younger friends, but that only tells you that they get less sleep, not that they need less sleep. Insomnia in the retired is not always taken seriously by doctors. In one study, 69% of older people reported a sleep problem, but in 81% of cases the problem was not noted on the patient’s chart. One hypothesis is that the aging process disrupts their circadian rhythms, causing them to wake earlier than they should.” While the study is not definitive, the researchers recommend that people 65 and older get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.