The sleep patterns of more than 3,300 participants were carefully monitored over a period of four years from 2011 to 2015. In which changes in their night routine and stability were recorded.
The data was analyzed by scholars at Wenzhou Medical University in China. Researchers found that people who get at least seven hours of sleep enjoy healthier lives as they age.
Successful aging was evaluated in 2020 and was defined as being free from major chronic diseases. It was defined as having no physical impairment, high cognitive function, good mental health and active engagement with life.
13.8% of participants were considered to be aging “successfully”. Of these, about two-thirds were consistently getting more than seven hours of sleep every night.
The participants were divided into five groups based on their sleeping schedules. Long term stable, moderately stable, decreasing, increasing and short term stable. The longer and moderately stable groups were found to have higher chances of successful aging. People with irregular patterns of rest periods did not perform as well on the age test.
The puzzle of the effect of sleep does not end here. The findings also showed that consistent extended sleep contributes to the fight against a number of physical and mental health concerns. Although the research was conducted in China, which has one of the fastest aging populations globally, The findings have universal application.
Published at : 11 Nov 2024 04:16 PM (IST)