How consistent sleep patterns promote healthy ageing
Scientists have determined the minimum amount of sleep necessary each night to ensure healthy ageing. According to research cited by the Science Alert portal, the minimum is seven hours.
The latest studies suggest that more than seven hours of sleep each night can significantly contribute to healthy ageing. The study involved 3,300 individuals 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 night enjoy better health in later 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 ageing. This indicates that healthy ageing 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 ageing 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.
The research was conducted in China, which has one of the fastest-ageing populations in the world, which poses a global challenge. The findings highlight that chronic lack of sleep and changes in its duration are significant barriers to healthy ageing. The study was published in BMC Public Health.
