According to a new study, the key to a good night’s sleep lies in keeping the bedroom temperature between 68 and 77°F. Researchers found that this temperature range allows for the most effective and restful sleep for older adults. When temperatures rise or drop outside this range, sleep quality declines, highlighting the importance of maintaining an optimal temperature in the bedroom—neither too hot nor too cold.
The Ideal Sleep Temperature
A team of American researchers from the Institute for Aging Research asked 50 participants aged 65 and older to wear sleep monitors for a year and a half. The study took place in Boston—a coastal city known for its warm, humid summers and cold, stormy winters. Participants slept in their own homes.
Climate Change May Worsen Sleep
The team found a 5-10% decrease in sleep efficiency when nighttime temperatures rose to 86°F, with participants being most restless at this level. Previous studies have shown that this decline is significant enough to impact cognitive performance, stress levels, activity, anxiety, mood, and fatigue. The effect on sleep was comparable to that of evening alcohol consumption or chronic pain.
As the researchers noted in the Daily Mail, their findings overall indicate an optimal temperature range for the most effective and restful sleep, with nighttime ambient temperatures between 68°F and 77°F.
These observations point to an exciting opportunity to potentially improve sleep among the older adult population by creating a more comfortable home environment. Additionally, lead author Amir Baniassadi warns that the study’s results underscore the potential impact of climate change on the sleep quality of older adults.