We all desire to "age successfully," minimizing health issues as much as possible. A new study indicates how much sleep each night can significantly assist in achieving this goal.
Successful aging is a concept that involves maintaining good physical, mental, and social health in older age. This entails a low risk of diseases or disabilities; ample opportunities for learning and physical activity; active participation in community life, among other things. Individuals who age successfully typically do not experience serious chronic illnesses, maintain high physical activity, exhibit good cognitive function, possess a positive emotional state, and are actively engaged in social life.
Researchers conducted a study to determine the amount of sleep necessary for "successful aging." The study included 3,306 participants aged 45 and older, whose sleep habits were recorded in 2011, 2013, and 2015. Afterward, they were medically examined five years later. Analyzing the data, researchers from Wenzhou Medical University (China) found that those who slept at least 7 hours a night had significantly better health as they aged.
"Successful aging in 2020 was assessed based on the absence of serious chronic diseases, physical impairments, high cognitive function, good mental health, and active community participation," the researchers note.
By the end of the study, only 455 participants (13.8%) met all the criteria for successful aging. Among them, 307 individuals (about two-thirds) consistently received more than 7 hours of sleep per night.
Participants were divided into five groups based on their sleep patterns: stable long (8-9 hours), stable normal (7-8 hours), decreasing (from more than 8 to less than 6 hours), increasing (from less than 6 to more than 8 hours), and stable short (5-6 hours).
The chances of successful aging were significantly higher in the stable groups: long (17.1%) and normal (18.1%) compared to those with decreasing (9.9%), increasing (10.6%), and stable short (8.8%) sleep patterns.
"Compared to participants with stable normal sleep, the chances of successful aging were 36% lower in the stable short sleep group and 52% lower in the increasing sleep group," the researchers write.
The team accounted for factors such as weight, alcohol consumption, and gender; however, the nature of the study does not allow for confirming a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
The findings of the research once again highlight the importance of stable and sufficient sleep.
Source: sciencealert
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