Researchers have learned about shortening life with regular sleep deficiency

Scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) have found that regular sleep lasting less than seven hours can imperceptibly shorten life expectancy. This was reported on January 10 by Science Daily magazine.

The researchers analyzed a large-scale national database, comparing life expectancy rates for U.S. counties with the results of surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2019 and 2025. The analysis covered data from all states and revealed consistent patterns.

Sleep turned out to be one of the key lifestyle factors affecting its duration. Its association with longevity turned out to be stronger than that of nutrition, physical activity, or social isolation. According to scientists, only smoking had a more significant effect.

"I didn't expect it to correlate so strongly with life expectancy. We've always believed that sleep is important, but this study really confirms this: people really should aim to sleep between seven and nine hours if at all possible," said Andrew McHill, lead author of the study, associate professor at the School of Nursing, Medical School and the Oregon Institute of Professional Sciences at the University of Oregon..

Experts have allegedly long recognized that adequate sleep promotes overall health. The authors of the study emphasized that they were amazed by the degree of association of sleep duration with life expectancy.

According to the publication, in almost all states and for each year of observations, the data showed a clear link: the higher the proportion of regularly sleep-deprived people, the lower the life expectancy. The biological mechanisms of this dependence were not analyzed in the study, but scientists note that sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining heart health, the immune system and brain function.

"This study shows that we need to pay at least as much attention to sleep as we do to what we eat or how we exercise. Sometimes we think of sleep as something that can be postponed for later or for the weekend. A good night's sleep will improve your well—being, as well as prolong your life," said McHill.

On January 7, Medical Xpress magazine reported an improvement in the mental health of adolescents with good sleep on weekends. It was clarified that young people who get enough sleep on weekends have a 41% lower risk of developing symptoms of depression compared to those who do not get enough sleep on these days.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.