A new study from the UTMB Pepper Center looked at the role sleep plays in how well older adults recover after a hospital stay.

Researchers followed 52 adults age 65 and older, looking at their sleep and physical abilities before they left the hospital and again four weeks later. Some participants also used a wearable device to track their sleep at home.

The results found that people who had worse sleep or felt more tired during the day tended to have poorer balance, weaker strength, and lower overall physical function after going home. Those whose sleep improved were more likely to show better physical recovery.

Why it matters:

Getting good sleep during and after a hospital stay may help older adults regain strength and return to their normal daily activities more quickly.

• Read the article in the Journal of Sleep Research: Association of Sleep Disturbance and Physical Functioning Following Acute Hospitalisation in Older Adults by Emily Arentson-Lantz, Julia Boyle, Rachel Deer, Manasa Kokonda, Danielle Bennetsen, Samantha Carreon, Jessica Meers, George Taffet, Farhaan S Vahidy, Kathryn Agarwal, Elena Volpi, and Sara Nowakowski.