Research from Oregon Health & Science University published in Sleep Advances reveals that inadequate sleep may reduce life expectancy more dramatically than diet, exercise, or loneliness. The study analyzed CDC survey data identifying trends in county-level average life expectancy, finding that poor sleep represents the top behavioral risk factor after smoking.
Study Findings
Researchers identified that lack of adequate sleep led to higher mortality risk in every U.S. state. Senior study author Andrew McHill, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory in the OHSU School of Nursing, stated that he did not expect sleep to be “so strongly correlated” to life expectancy. “We’ve always thought sleep is important, but this research really drives that point home,” McHill noted, emphasizing that “people really should strive to get seven to nine hours of sleep, if at all possible.” He stressed that research demonstrates the need to “prioritize sleep at least as much as we do what we eat or how we exercise.”
Brain Health Mechanisms
Dr. Daniel Amen, psychiatrist and owner of Amen Clinics in California, explained how sleep deprivation affects the brain. “When you sleep, your brain cleans and washes itself,” he said. “And if you don’t sleep seven to nine hours at night, your brain looks older than you are—there’s less blood flow, and it increases inflammation in the brain. Your brain doesn’t have enough time to get rid of the toxins that build up during the day.”
Inadequate sleep impairs decision-making and creates harmful cycles. Amen noted that “if your brain has less activity in the front part, not only are you tired, but you’re also hungrier, and you’re more likely to not make the best decisions. Which, of course, will stress you out, and then you won’t sleep well the next night.”
Practical Recommendations
Amen suggested a simple starting point: getting to bed 15 minutes earlier. He recommended being purposeful about avoiding distractions like Netflix or phones before sleep, and beginning each morning positively by saying to yourself, “Today is going to be a great day.” According to Amen, greater positivity improves brain function.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.foxnews.com/health/missing-sleep-may-take-hidden-toll-your-brain-longevity-research-reveals