Researchers at Columbia University have found that sleeping between 6.4 and 7.8 hours a day results in the slowest rate of biological aging.
The study, reported by Polish news outlet Wydarzenia, analyzed health data from nearly 500,000 people to evaluate the relationship between sleep duration and the biological age of organs throughout the body. Accelerated aging was recorded more frequently among individuals sleeping under six hours per night, as well as those sleeping more than eight hours.
Investigators examined 17 organs and bodily systems rather than limiting their focus to the brain. The analysis included key systems such as the heart, lungs, and immune system.
Health risks of short sleep
Getting fewer than six hours of sleep per night was connected to a series of specific health conditions. According to the research, short sleep was linked to a higher incidence of depression, anxiety disorders, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and heart rhythm disorders.
Both short and excessive sleep duration were also associated with ailments affecting the lungs and digestive system. Researchers identified connections to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Columbia University, located in New York City, is a major research university known globally for its medical and public health studies. Large scale epidemiological investigations frequently examine population datasets to uncover how daily habits affect physiological longevity.
Maintaining a consistent routine
The authors noted that sleep duration serves as a vital indicator of overall physical health because it correlates with multiple body systems at once. They concluded that adults must aim for consistent, adequate sleep tailored to their individual needs rather than simply avoiding sleep deprivation.
The findings build on previous expert consensus that no universal rule requires everyone to get eight hours of sleep. Sleep specialists emphasize that a healthy routine depends on maintaining the exact same sleep schedule each night, rather than alternating between five hours one night and ten hours the next.
