We have long known that factors affecting longevity include diet, physical activity, and sleep.
Now, to determine which of these factors is most important for longevity, scientists at Oregon Health & Science University (USA) analyzed a large national US database. They examined average life expectancy and compared it with detailed survey data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2019 and 2025.
The results revealed something surprising: Sleep is one of the most important factors determining your lifespan.
New research has found that sleep is a crucial factor in determining your lifespan.
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Research has found that consistently insufficient sleep shortens lifespan. Notably, sleep is even more important than diet or physical activity, highlighting its crucial role in long-term health.
The importance of sleep for longevity is even greater than diet, physical activity, or social isolation, and is second only to smoking. This finding surprised even the researchers themselves, according to the science news site Scitechdaily.
Lead author, Dr. Andrew McHill, associate professor at the OHSU School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, said the research team was surprised by the powerful impact sleep has on longevity. He emphasized that while sleep has long been considered important, this study shows that even if you have trouble falling asleep, try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, according to Scitechdaily.
In the study, the US CDC defined sufficient sleep as at least 7 hours per night, consistent with the recommendations of the National Institute of Sleep Medicine and the American Sleep Research Association.
Dr. McHill stated: Sleep affects cardiovascular health, the immune system, and brain function. From this, the authors concluded that sleep should be prioritized at least as much as diet and exercise. Good sleep is not only beneficial for overall health, but may also contribute to a longer lifespan.