Study Finds 6.4-7.8 Hours of Sleep Slow Aging as Irregular Patterns Raise Disease Risk
Updated
Updated · The News International · Aug 25
Study Finds 6.4-7.8 Hours of Sleep Slow Aging as Irregular Patterns Raise Disease Risk
3 articles · Updated · The News International · Aug 25
Summary
93,249 UK Biobank participants tracked by wearables showed that irregular, fragmented or light sleep was tied to faster biological aging and higher risk of age-related diseases.
6.4 to 7.8 hours a night marked the lowest biological-age gap, while sleeping under 6 hours or over 8 hours was linked to higher disease and mortality risk.
Multiple organ systems were affected — not just the brain, but also the heart, lungs, immune system and metabolic pathways showed signs of accelerated aging with poor sleep.
Brain-imaging research from the Karolinska Institute found poor sleep quality, insomnia, snoring, daytime sleepiness and irregular schedules can make the brain appear up to 1 year older.
Researchers said low-grade chronic inflammation partly explains the link, suggesting sleep habits are a modifiable lever for long-term cognitive and physical health.