cycles.
Blood sugar shifts: Skipping dinner or late-night snacking can cause glucose swings that wake you up.
Hormonal changes: Menopause and aging both affect sleep stability, especially between 3 and 5 AM.
Circadian confusion: Irregular bedtimes or screen use at night throw off your internal clock.
For seniors in particular, hormonal changes and natural shifts in circadian rhythm often make sleep lighter and more fragmented. But this doesn’t mean restful nights are out of reach.
The Sleep Catch-Up Myth
It’s tempting to think you can solve these midnight wake-ups by “
