Sleep well for a longer life: Study reveals optimal hours
Scientists have determined the minimum number of hours of sleep needed at night to ensure healthy aging. According to research cited by the Science Alert portal, this is seven hours.
7:12 PM EST, November 11, 2024
The latest studies indicate that more than seven hours of sleep each night can significantly contribute to healthy aging. The study involved 3,300 people aged 45 and older whose sleep habits were monitored in 2011, 2013, and 2015, and their health status was assessed five years later.
Key research findings
An analysis conducted by a team from Wenzhou Medical University in China showed that people who sleep at least seven hours a day enjoy better health later in life.
Participants were divided into five groups based on their sleep habits: long stable (8-9 hours), normal stable (7-8 hours), decreasing, increasing, and short stable (5-6 hours). The groups with long and normal stable sleep had the greatest chances of healthy aging. This means healthy aging is associated with at least 7 hours of sleep (including sleeping for 8-9 hours).
The importance of regular sleep
People from the stable sleep duration groups had better chances of healthy aging than those with unstable sleep habits. Researchers considered factors such as weight, alcohol consumption, and gender, although the study does not confirm a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
China, where the research was conducted, has one of the fastest-aging populations in the world, which poses a global challenge. The findings emphasize that chronic lack of sleep and changes in its duration are significant barriers to healthy aging. The study was published in "BMC Public Health".
