Study: Older adults deal better with sleep loss

May 7, 2009 A report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society finds older adults actually cope better with sleep deprivation than younger adults.

The report also stresses that daytime sleepiness is not a normal part of aging. Rather, it could be the result of a number of factors including chronic medical conditions or side effects of medications.

The report recommends that older adults who fall asleep unintentionally during the day should be seen by a doctor to determine the cause.