Regular daily routine linked to less pain and depression in older adults
A University of Missouri study found that older adults with consistent daily schedules report less physical pain and fewer depressive symptoms, even when they sleep poorly. The study is small and does not prove cause and effect.
Researchers at the University of Missouri in the United States have found that older adults who keep a regular daily routine report less physical pain and fewer symptoms of depression, even if they have trouble sleeping. The study was published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
Eunjin Tracy, an assistant professor in the university's College of Education and Human Development, analyzed survey responses from 67 older adults. Of these, 37 reported insomnia. As expected, participants with insomnia reported more pain and higher levels of depression than those without it. However, those who kept more consistent schedules reported less pain and fewer depressive symptoms regardless of how well they slept.
According to the National Council on Aging, roughly half of adults aged 60 and older report symptoms of insomnia.
A possible explanation
The researchers point to the circadian rhythm, the body's natural 24-hour timing system, as one possible explanation. It helps govern wakefulness and sleepiness and influences hormone activity, metabolism and mood. Light and darkness are key signals for it, but regular activities such as eating, working or studying, socializing and going to bed also provide timing cues. An irregular schedule can interfere with that coordination.
Tracy also highlights social jet lag, which occurs when a person's sleep schedule shifts between workdays and days off, for example waking early on weekdays but staying up late and sleeping in at weekends. The effect resembles crossing time zones. She suggests that keeping reasonably consistent times throughout the whole week, weekends included, may limit such disruption.
Limitations
The study relied on survey data from a relatively small group, so it cannot prove that adopting a regular routine will relieve pain or depression. Larger studies would be needed to determine that.
