Sleep Study Has Warning for Night Owls
Poor sleep is linked to feeling older than actual age, with each poor night aging participants by three months on average and limited sleep leading to an average feeling of 4.44 years older in volunteers aged 18 to 46.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
A recent study conducted in Sweden found that poor sleep can make people feel older than their actual age. The study surveyed over 400 individuals aged 18 to 70 and revealed that for each night of poor sleep, participants felt three months older on average. In contrast, those who reported no poor nights of sleep felt nearly six years younger. Another survey with 186 volunteers aged 18 to 46 showed that limited sleep led to an average feeling of being 4.44 years older than their true age. Morning people were affected by limited sleep, but evening people often felt older than their true age even with ample sleep. Feeling older was associated with increased sleepiness, and previous research has linked higher subjective age to depression. The study’s lead author highlighted the importance of promoting feelings of youth, as those who feel younger tend to lead healthier and longer lives. The study was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.