Although it is traditionally said that we need to complete eight hours of sleep, researchers show that eight hours (or more), but also less than seven hours of sleep, have a negative effect on the body as we grow older.
If you’ve been drowsy for many days and wish you had a little more sleep time, consider this: New research shows that you may already be sleeping more than you need depending on your age.
In particular, according to new research from the University of Cambridge and Fudan University in Shanghai, eight hours, which is considered by many to be an ideal time sleepis not actually suitable for those over 38 years old.
Examining the sleeping habits of 500,000 adults between the ages of 38 and 73, the ideal sleep duration is closer to 7 hours.
Survey participants were tested on their mental abilities and asked to answer questions about their sleep habits, physical and mental health. In fact, some provided genetic characteristics and other types of biometric data.
Research concludes that whether you sleep less or more than you should has exactly the same effect.
That is, although it is traditionally said that we must complete eight hours sleep, researchers show that eight hours (or more), but also less than seven hours of sleep, have a negative effect on the body as we grow older. Indicatively, in the long run the wrong duration of sleep causes problems in mental health and “worse mental performance”.
Sleeping date
Research also concludes that the key to proper sleep is consistency. That is, if one sleeps six hours one day and nine the next, then one will still feel blurred and tired. According to the researchers, if deep sleep is interrupted during the night, then one can have this morning “blur”, as the brain does not have enough time to remove toxins.
In addition, it turns out that the right duration of sleep has benefits for general well-being, but also for memory. The hippocampus of the brain, which functions as a “center” of memories, is affected by lack or excessive sleep. Finally, the most important findings of the research include the fact that proper sleep reduces the likelihood of disease.
Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge, who is one of the authors of the study, told the British Telegraph: “Sleeping well is important at all stages of life, but especially as we grow older.
“Identifying sleep patterns for older people can be fundamental to maintaining good mental health and well-being and avoiding limitations of their mental abilities, especially in patients with psychiatric disorders and dementia.”
