Why do we sleep less when we get older?
601486
Because adults have more responsibilities than children.  When you get really old, you have less responsibilities and you sleep more.  Interesting.
1121117
sleeping is still one big unsolved mystery.. till now there is no clear definition on why does the body needs sleeping or what happens in the brain during sleeping hours .. actually all living creatures do need sleeping each their own way. We spend half of our life sleeping.. really strange !! As for your question.. closing your eyes, opening your hand, lifting your leg are all body acts that can't be compared to sleeping.
727581
It depends on what age. When your metabolism slows down in older age, your appetite generally declines. At 42, I was still a pretty hearty eater, but I am 60 now, and I can tell my appetite isn't what it used to be - it started with me at about 55. Just be sure to exercise whatever you eat.
1071612
Seriously, you could try having LESS sleep. Not many folks really require more than 8 hours a night on a regular basis once they are adults and before they hit old age. If I take more than that, I always get a headache.\n\nHowever, chronic fatigue can be caused by any number of things. An obvious cause could be an underactive Thyroid gland, for which there is a simple test which your doctor can arrange.
773797
It is because of the less energy in your body . You might be doing hard work during the day and wouldn,t be having sufficient diet and exericise according to your age .
126121
Im 25, usually 7 - 8 hours does it, if ive been sleeping regularly in this pattern. However, if Ive not eaten much the day before, if my diet isnt right, my blood sugar would be low, hence the lack of energy.\nSo to answer your question. Regular sleep(7-8 hrs), good diet, no stress.\nHope ive helped your study.
452394
because just because your physical body needs rest, your brain can't just "die".  It's constantly doing something....so your subconscious just takes over for you when you sleep.  Takes you into another place
1580
Nobody knows for sure; however, there are many theories.  Below is a very plasable one:\n\nJerome Siegel, of the University of California in Los Angeles, along with colleagues elsewhere, has suggested a third possibility. Writing in a special review of sleep in the current issue of Nature, Dr Siegel says that it may be related to defence against oxidative stress. Smaller animals have higher metabolic rates, and this results in the generation of higher levels of small, highly reactive molecules such as free radicals. Studies on rats show that when they are deprived of sleep, their oxidative stress increases. Dr Siegel proposes that animals with higher metabolic rates need more sleep to interrupt and protect against this kind of oxidative damage, as well as repairing any damage done.
131160
It because of the hormone Melatonin. It is produced in the Pineal gland up in the brain, and makes us sleepy.
954592
Your body's metabolism - energy/calorie burning - adjusts constantly.  So, by sleeping too much and not getting exercise, you are setting your body's thermostat very low.  This may just be a phase that you are going through, but you need to try to find activities to occupy yourself to keep from sleeping too much.  Make sure that you are sleeping at appropriate times, by 10:00 p.m. and up by 7:00 a.m. at the latest most nights.  If you are still tired and cannot control it - you need to ask your mom to see a doctor and have your thyroid checked just to be safe.  An underactive thyroid makes you feel tired constantly.\n\nGood luck.
1133904
Don't worry about the number of hours you're sleeping; think about how you feel in the morning, as well as how easily you get tired as the day goes on.  If you're comfortable with your level of energy, then that's the right amount of sleep for you.  And of course, it can change depending on how physically & mentally active you are.  In addition, the average person needs less sleep as they get older.
130424
Heavens no.  Everyone has different needs as to sleep.  Some people function wonderfully on 4 - 6 hours.  Others can't feel their best without 8 - 10.  You will learn what your body requires to feel completely rested as you go - it will change as you get older.
556914
Are you asking why? or are you making a general assumption? To be honest with you, I thought it was only the baby boomers who made sweeping generalizations about a group of people. I know when I have trouble sleeping, I get more rude and obnoxious. When I have some sleep, I usually have calculated answers and questions that I enjoy a diverse array of answers to. I think its because your mustache and Adam's apple shows less in the dark of night.
732359
The interesting thing is, no scientists actually know WHY we have to sleep.  They know what causes it, and how much we need, but no one can answer that large question (about sleep) "Why?"
1103169
To see why the more you sleep, the less you weigh, see the sie below under "fat loss tips" around number 10.\n\nhttp://phifoundation.org
331028
The Need for Sleep \n \nSleep Is a Basic Human Need\nSleep is a natural part of everybody's life, but many people know very little about how important it is, and some even try to get by with little sleep. Sleep is something our bodies need to do; it is not an option. Even though the exact reasons for sleep remain a mystery, we do know that during sleep many of the body's major organ and regulatory systems continue to work actively. Some parts of the brain actually increase their activity dramatically, and the body produces more of certain hormones.\n\nSleep, like diet and exercise, is important for our minds and bodies to function normally. In fact, sleep appears to be required for survival. Rats deprived of sleep die within two to three weeks, a time frame similar to death due to starvation.\n\nAn internal biological clock regulates the timing for sleep. It programs each person to feel sleepy during the nighttime hours and to be active during the daylight hours. Light is the cue that synchronizes the biological clock to the 24-hour cycle of day and night.\n\nProblem Sleepiness Has Serious Consequences\nSleepiness due to chronic lack of adequate sleep is a big problem in the United States and affects many children as well as adults. Children and even adolescents need at least 9 hours of sleep each night to do their best. Most adults need approximately 8 hours of sleep each night.\n\nWhen we get less sleep (even one hour less) than we need each night, we develop a "sleep debt." If the sleep debt becomes too great, it can lead to problem sleepiness – sleepiness that occurs when you should be awake and alert, that interferes with daily routine and activities, and reduces your ability to function. Even if you do not feel sleepy, the sleep debt can have a powerful negative effect on your daytime performance, thinking, and mood, and cause you to fall asleep at inappropriate and even dangerous times.\n\nProblem sleepiness has serious consequences – it puts adolescents and adults at risk for drowsy driving or workplace accidents. In children, it increases the risk of accidents and injuries. In addition, lack of sleep can have a negative effect on children's performance in school, on the playground, in extracurricular activities, and in social relationships.\n\nInadequate sleep can cause decreases in\n- Performance\n- Concentration\n- Reaction times (important when driving)\n- Consolidation of information learning\n\nInadequate sleep can cause increases in\n- Memory lapses \n- Accidents and injuries \n- Behavior Problems \n- Mood Problems \n- Signs of sleep disorders
845486
It will improve the quality of the sleep you get. You will sleep deeper and feel more rested, even if you sleep less hours. but, do not work out within 2 hours of going to bed or it can boomerang and actually keep you awake.