How Aging Affects Your Circadian Rhythm: Why Sleep Schedule Changes Become Harder (Especially for People with ADHD)
If you’ve noticed that recovering from travel across time zones takes longer than it used to, or that adjusting to daylight saving time feels more disruptive with each passing year, you’re experiencing a normal part of aging. Your circadian rhythm—your body’s internal 24-hour clock—undergoes significant changes as you age, making it substantially more challenging to adapt to new sleep schedules.
This matters because sleep timing affects every aspect of your health and daily functioning. Poor circadian adaptation can lead to chronic sleep disruption, daytime fatigue, mood changes, and reduced cognitive performance. By understanding how aging affects your internal clock, you can develop more effective strategies for managing sleep schedule changes and maintaining better overall health throughout your later years.
For individuals managing ADHD, these age-related circadian changes can compound existing sleep challenges and executive function difficulties, making consistent sleep routines even more crucial for symptom management and daily functioning. The combination of aging and ADHD creates a particularly vulnerable situation where circadian disruption can significantly worsen attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity symptoms.
