Scientists have linked lack and excess of sleep with accelerated aging
Lack and excess of sleep are associated with accelerated biological aging of the brain, heart, lungs, and immune system. This was reported on May 13 by Medical Xpress magazine.
Columbia University scientists analyzed data from 500,000 people and found a coordinated pattern between rest time and the state of 17 body systems. The researchers used machine learning technologies to create 23 "aging clocks" that assess the condition of specific organs based on molecular data, blood proteins, and medical images.
The analysis showed that both a short sleep (less than six hours) and an excessively long one (more than eight hours) correlate with premature wear of fabrics. The lowest rate of aging was recorded in people who sleep from 6.4 to 7.8 hours a day.
Junhao Wen, Head of the study and Associate Professor of Radiology at Columbia University
Previous studies have shown that sleep is largely associated with aging and pathological stress on the brain. Our study goes further and shows that both lack and excess sleep are associated with faster aging of almost all organs, confirming the idea that sleep is important for maintaining organ health within a coordinated brain–body network, including metabolic balance and a healthy immune system.
The study revealed a link between sleep deficiency and the development of depression, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease. At the same time, both short and long rest periods were associated with the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and digestive disorders such as gastritis.
The authors paid special attention to depression in old age. It has been established that sleep deficiency can directly affect the severity of the disease, while its excess affects the mental state through mechanisms related to the biological clock of the brain and adipose tissue. According to experts, this indicates the need for different approaches to therapy for patients with different sleep patterns.
On May 11, Medical Xpress reported on the connection of involvement in art with the slowing down of biological aging. According to the study, people who engage in creative activities or attend cultural events at least once a week age 4% slower compared to those who rarely pay attention to it.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
