Scientists Say You Need Long Sleep To Age Healthily

The new research, which included 3,306 participants aged 45 and older, recorded their sleep habits in 2011, 2013, and 2015, and after five years, examined their health. The data was analyzed by a team from the Venzhou Medical University in China and showed that those who sleep at least seven hours a night are significantly healthier when they pass through the early stages of adulthood.

The researchers write in the published article: 'Healthy aging in 2020 was evaluated and defined as being free from major chronic diseases, having no physical impairments, high cognitive performance, good mental health, and being actively engaged with life.'

At the end of the study period, only 455 individuals (13.8%) met all the criteria for healthy aging. Of these, 307 people (about two-thirds) consistently slept more than seven hours a night.

Participants were divided into five groups based on their sleep habits over the four years: Stable Long (8 to 9 hours of regular sleep), Stable Normal (7 to 8 hours of regular sleep), Decreasing (from an average of more than 8 hours to less than 6), Increasing (from an average of less than 6 hours to more than 8), and Stable Short (5 to 6 hours of regular sleep).

The chances of healthy aging in the Stable Long and Stable Normal groups (17.1% and 18.1%, respectively) were significantly higher compared to the Decreasing (9.9%), Increasing (10.6%), and Stable Short (8.8%) groups.

The researchers state: 'Compared to participants with Stable Long sleep, those with Stable Short sleep and those with an Increasing sleep pattern had 36% and 52% lower chances of healthy aging, respectively.' Additionally, participants with a Decreasing sleep pattern also had a lower chance of healthy aging, though this was likely not statistically significant, as there were not enough participants to draw an appropriate conclusion."