There’s a new study that suggests that our traditional thinking about the perfect bedroom temperatures may be a bit off — and far too chilly.
For most people, keeping your bedroom cool — anywhere from 60 to 67 degrees, per the National Sleep Foundation — will likely result in higher sleep efficiency, or less time spent tossing and turning.
However, a new study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, indicates that older adults in particular may benefit from slightly warmer temperatures at night, between 68 and 77 degrees.
The study found that the ideal sleep temperature for older adults is between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (20 and 25 degrees Celsius). The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife and Harvard Medical School, found that older adults who slept in bedrooms at these temperatures had better sleep quality and efficiency than those who slept in warmer or cooler temperatures.
The study involved 50 older adults who wore sleep monitors and environmental sensors for an extended period of time. The researchers found that a 5-10% drop in sleep efficiency occurred as the nighttime ambient temperature increased from 77 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the study found that older adults who slept in bedrooms that were too hot were more likely to wake up during the night and have difficulty falling back asleep.
For most people, 75 degrees is too hot to sleep, per the National Sleep Foundation. But the new study found that in people 65 and up, sleep efficiency only started to decrease when temperatures were above 77 degrees.
“We think it’s related to the fact that, as you age, your ability to regulate your internal temperature is not as robust,” Dr. Carol Ash, sleep expert with RWJBarnabas Health, said in an Aug. 28 segment on TODAY. It becomes harder to keep your body warmer as you get older, so keeping the bedroom at a slightly higher temperature may help people over 50 sleep more soundly, the study suggests.
Does this line up with your sleeping habits? https://t.co/Vss3XVxH3j
— Men's Journal (@MensJournal) August 30, 2023
