Don’t Sleep on It: Poor Sleep Health Can Shave Years Off Your Life

Flip through any health magazine and you’ll be constantly reminded that factors like poor diet and lack of exercise can reduce life expectancy. One risk factor that’s often glossed over? Low quality sleep. This common problem has big consequences for your health and longevity. Here’s why it’s time to start taking your sleep health seriously — your future self will thank you for it.

As we age, is a poor night’s rest inevitable?

There’s an inseparable relationship between sleep, circadian rhythms, and metabolism. The findings lead scientists to suggest that age-related changes in sleep patterns may be associated with disturbances in lipid metabolism pathways, which ultimately reduce our lifespan.

Studies throughout the years have shown us that worsening sleep quality is a physiological sign of aging. It’s also true that, as we grow older, our learning abilities and memory begin to fade. However, it’s not just aging that impacts the quality of our sleep. The reverse is equally true: the quality of sleep we experience on a nightly basis impacts our health as we age.

Better sleep health = better long-term brain health

Dr. Matthew Walker, PhD, director of UC Berkeley’s Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab, explains that the quality of our sleep impacts us more seriously as we age. Dr. Walker published evidence that diminished sleep quality (which usually manifests in older individuals as a disruption of deep sleep) and cognitive decline don’t just occur simultaneously: they are significantly interrelated.

This is actually good news: it’s possible to achieve a better night’s rest by addressing the underlying health issues that impact your sleep quality. Many of the other factors that contribute to the development of dementia are very difficult to treat. But with the appropriate care, people can sleep better and make their brain more resilient as they age.

Now is a good time to take care of your sleep

If you’re a younger person, you might be tempted to continue burning the candle at both ends. However, when disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (one of the most common sleep disorders) are left untreated, the situation only gets more serious. At its worst, undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders can lead to an increased risk of early mortality.

So how many hours should you be sleeping? One study found that individuals between the ages of 50 and 75 who slept between 7 and 8.5 hours could look forward to an average of 13.5 more disease-free years. In contrast, those who slept less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours per night experienced an average of 1–3 fewer years in good health. Those who suffer from chronically disturbed sleep have even fewer estimated years of healthy living left ahead of them.

Aging healthily and happily begins by recognizing the importance of a good night’s rest. When it comes to safeguarding your health for the long term, caring for sleep-related issues is critical.

Learn more about how sleep-related disorders may be impacting your ability to experience the joy of being fully awake, and what we can do about it: www.primasun.com