Contrary to popular belief, seniors do not need less sleep. They simply tend to get less sleep. In adulthood and the senior years, more than one-third of the U.S. population reports inadequate or disrupted sleep. A lack of sufficient sleep can lead to many health complications, especially in the elderly. Sleep's role in memory processing and storage is vitally important, as seniors are naturally at risk for memory loss and dementia. Seniors who aren't getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night should let their medical professional know, and try to resolve the problem.