105: Sleep Science Today with Andrew Colsky - Episode 105105: Sleep Science Today with Andrew Colsky - Episode 105
UK Health Radio Podcast
Andrew Kolsky and Dr Erin Cassidy-Eagle discuss how ageing, mental health, alcohol, cannabis and medication affect sleep and brain health. The conversation focuses on practical, behavioural ways to improve sleep quality, especially for older adults and those worried about insomnia or dementia.
44:12•13 Oct 2026
Sleep, Ageing and Brain Health with Dr Erin Cassidy-Eagle
Episode Overview
- Sleep difficulties are closely tied to depression, anxiety and dementia, and should be treated as a primary issue rather than a side effect.
- For most adults, a normal sleep range is about six to nine hours, and sleep naturally becomes lighter with slightly shorter duration as people age.
- Short, planned naps of around 30–40 minutes can be helpful, but long daytime sleep and very short or very long night-time sleep may be linked with later cognitive problems.
- Alcohol and cannabis may help people drift off but tend to reduce sleep quality and are poor long-term solutions for insomnia.
- Behavioural sleep strategies and specialist support are recommended as first-line treatments, with consistent wake times and meaningful daytime activities helping both sleep and overall wellbeing.
“Sleep is just such a core part of our enjoyment of life and our ability to enjoy life.”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober, manage ageing bodies, and still get a decent night's sleep? This conversation on UK Health Radio’s "Sleep Science Today" brings science down to earth as host Andrew Kolsky chats with Dr Erin Cassidy-Eagle, a clinical professor at Stanford University and behavioural sleep specialist. The episode focuses on how sleep weaves through depression, anxiety, dementia and ageing.
Dr Cassidy-Eagle explains that sleep problems show up across almost every mental health condition and often linger even after mood improves.
Rather than treating sleep as a side issue, she now treats it as centre stage, noting that, "sleep is just such a core part of our enjoyment of life and our ability to enjoy life." You’ll hear clear explanations of how sleep needs change with age, why lighter sleep and earlier wake times in your 60s, 70s and 80s are normal, and why that magical “8 hours” is more myth than rule.
She normalises worry about early rising and reassures older adults that a 6–9 hour range is usually fine, especially as deep sleep naturally drops with age. There’s a straight-talking section on naps (she’s "pro-nap"—with limits), the impact of alcohol and cannabis on sleep quality, and why long daytime naps and very short or very long nightly sleep might be linked with cognitive decline.
Prescription sleep aids get an honest review too, with a reminder that most were meant for short-term use and that getting off them can be tricky. Most importantly, the episode highlights practical, behavioural tools—like consistent wake times, meaningful daytime activity and seeing a behavioural sleep specialist—that can help you sleep better without relying on substances.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your sleep is harming or helping your brain, this is a useful place to pause, reflect and maybe rethink your nightly routine.
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