The sleep duration that accelerates aging has been named

Scientists have found that nighttime sleep shorter than 6.4 and longer than 7.8 hours can accelerate age-related changes and increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. The results of the study were presented by Junhao Wen, an associate professor at Columbia University. The expert was quoted by the Daily Mail.

A large-scale study encompassing data from nearly half a million people allowed scientists to compare sleep patterns with the condition of various organs and body systems. The results proved quite revealing: sleep lasting between 6.4 and 7.8 hours per day was found to be the most beneficial for health. It was precisely among people who maintained this range that signs of biological aging manifested noticeably more slowly, and overall well-being remained at a high level.

Those participants who slept less or significantly longer than the specified norm were far more likely to experience accelerated aging of the body. As the analysis showed, sleep deprivation was associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety disorders, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, disrupted sleep patterns were frequently accompanied by problems with the lungs and digestive system.

According to Junhao Wen, sleep plays a key role in maintaining the normal functioning of the body. It is precisely during nighttime rest that metabolism, the immune system, and numerous internal processes that directly affect health and life expectancy are restored.

At the same time, the researchers make an important caveat: poor sleep does not always become a direct cause of diseases. In many cases, it may serve as an early signal that hidden disruptions have already begun in the body.