Andrew Huberman· PhD
However, as we get older, it is true that the amount of slow wave sleep to REM sleep tends to change, and we can do better on shorter bouts of sleep, mostly because we're getting less rapid eye movement sleep.
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The headline is broadly defensible, but the qualifications matter. Effect sizes vary by population, the strongest claims rest on shorter trials, and credible voices push back on how it's typically framed.
However, as we get older, it is true that the amount of slow wave sleep to REM sleep tends to change, and we can do better on shorter bouts of sleep, mostly because we're getting less rapid eye movement sleep.
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And maybe one of the reasons why REM sleep is deeper especially in adults and older people, that deep slow wave sleep goes away. So it's not as deep. It's not as big. The slow waves aren't as large which is probably problematic, but we are not sure.
by age 50 you are down to about 50% of the deep non-rem sleep that you were having when you were 17 or 18
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