Seven hours nightly crucial for healthy aging, study finds
Scientists have determined the minimum number of hours of sleep needed nightly to ensure healthy aging. According to research cited by the Science Alert portal, this is seven hours.
Recent studies suggest that more than seven hours of sleep each night can significantly contribute to healthy aging. The study involved 3,300 participants 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 individuals who sleep at least seven hours a night 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 indicates that healthy aging is associated with at least seven hours of sleep (including sleeping for 8-9 hours).
The importance of regular sleep
People in 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 globally, which poses a worldwide 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".
