Did you know your health quality over the years could depend on your sleep routine?
Multiple studies have drawn clear connections between good sleep quality and protection against various physical and mental health issues. Now, Chinese researchers have delved into the link between sleep duration and healthy ageing.
Sleep 7 hours or more for healthier ageing
In a study published on November 1, 2024, in BMC Public Health, researchers monitored the sleep habits of 3,306 people aged 45 and older in 2011, 2013, and 2015, followed by a health assessment five years later.
Participants were categorised into five sleep groups based on their sleep trends over four years:
- Long stability: Consistent 8–9 hours of sleep
- Normal stability: Regularly 7–8 hours of sleep
- Decreasing: Average sleep dropping from over 8 hours to less than 6
- Increasing: Sleep rising from less than 6 hours to over 8
- Short stability: Consistent 5–6 hours of sleep
By the study’s end, only 455 people (13.8%) met all criteria for what researchers termed “successful ageing.” Of these, 307—nearly two-thirds—slept regularly more than 7 hours each night.
Notably, those in the long-term stable and normal stability groups had higher odds of successful ageing (17.1% and 18.1%, respectively) compared to participants in the decreasing (9.9%), increasing (10.6%), and short-term stability (8.8%) groups.
The importance of consistent, long sleep for ageing well
In 2020, researchers defined “successful ageing” as freedom from major chronic diseases, absence of physical disability, high cognitive function, good mental health, and active life engagement.
This study took into account a range of factors, such as weight, alcohol consumption, and gender, although it doesn’t confirm a direct cause-and-effect link.
However, the results underscore the importance of consistent, adequate sleep for healthy ageing. “Compared to participants with normal, stable sleep duration, those with a declining or increasing sleep pattern were 36% and 52% less likely, respectively, to age successfully,” the researchers noted.
Consistent quality sleep may just be your best long-term health investment!
This article was syndicated from Marie Claire France
Translated and adapted by Praise Vandeh, Marie Claire Nigeria Content Writer
