sleep between – A new study published in Nature on May 13 suggests that for middle-aged and older adults, sleeping between 6.4 and 7.8 hours is the healthiest range. Researchers warn that both too little and too much sleep were linked to faster aging across multiple organs an
For years, eight hours has been the default answer. But for many people—especially once midlife arrives—researchers say that number may be less useful than a more precise range.
A new sleep study published in the journal Nature on May 13 found that for middle-aged and older adults, the “sweet spot” falls somewhere between 6.4 and 7.8 hours.
“Our study . . . shows that too little and too much sleep are associated with faster aging in nearly every organ,” Junhao Wen, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor of radiology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said in a statement.
The warning isn’t just about feeling tired. The study links sleep that runs short or runs long to accelerated aging in the brain, heart, lung, and immune system—and connects that pattern to a wide range of diseases.
Researchers led by scientists at Columbia University also found that “short sleep” was significantly associated with depressive episodes. anxiety disorders. type 2 diabetes. heart disease. and obesity. The picture shifted for people whose sleep was inconsistent on both ends. Those getting both “short and long sleep” were more associated with diseases like asthma and digestive disorders like gastritis.
To reach those findings, the researchers turned to data from a U.K. Biobank study that includes 500,000 volunteers. Using machine learning, they examined how aging in various organs and parts of the body related to length of sleep.
Because different organs age at different rates, Wen’s team built “aging clocks” for specific organs. Their ability to create these clocks, using the study’s approach, places the team at the forefront of aging research.
“Everyone is excited by these ‘aging clocks’ and their ability to predict disease and mortality risk,” Wen said. “But to me, the more exciting question is, can we link aging clocks to a lifestyle factor that can be modified in time to slow aging?”
The study’s central message lands with a simple tension: sleep isn’t only about getting enough—it’s also about getting into a range. For middle-aged and older adults, the work suggests that straying both directions may carry biological consequences, not just next-day grogginess.
sleep study Nature aging clocks Junhao Wen Columbia University U.K. Biobank 6.4 to 7.8 hours brain aging heart aging lung aging immune system aging depressive episodes anxiety disorders type 2 diabetes heart disease obesity asthma gastritis machine learning
So if I sleep 8+ I’m basically aging like milk?? Love that. /s
I always figured it was just “get 8 hours” and be done with it. Now it’s like 6.4 to 7.8? Sounds made up tbh. Also who has the ability to time sleep like that every night.
Wait so “short and long” sleep is worse like… both? So if you’re tired then sleep in later you’re screwed? My aunt does that all the time and she’s got asthma and gastritis, so not trying to be dramatic but this feels too spot on. They’re saying it causes it or just connected?
Nature study + machine learning “aging clocks” = basically just guessing what your body does anyway. But I mean, I believe it. If you sleep less you feel bad, if you sleep too much you feel lazy, so it’s not shocking it shows up on organs. Also depressive episodes and anxiety disorders… that part feels like everything is linked to everything though. People also drink coffee late and scroll phones, so maybe that’s the real cause.