American researchers assert that a good night’s sleep not only enhances beauty but also has anti-aging effects.
A team from Augusta University concluded that those who maintain a consistent sleep schedule are biologically younger. In contrast, neglecting this routine is linked to deteriorating health and early mortality.
While chronological age refers to the number of years lived, biological age indicates how old the cells and tissues are.
How the Study Was Conducted
At the outset of their research, the team hypothesized that disruptions to the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) could accelerate cellular aging and the onset of age-related diseases.
To validate this and other assumptions, the scientists analyzed sleep data from 6,052 participants, with an average age of 50. The information was collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the U.S.
For four to seven days, volunteers wore trackers that gathered data on sleep duration, variability (changes in sleep time), and irregularity. Researchers were particularly interested in the difference in sleep duration between weekdays and weekends, as well as how the average sleep onset time shifted between these periods. During the experiment, the team also inquired about participants’ health status, weight, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and physical activity levels.
The scientists calculated the biological age of participants by analyzing blood samples, blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, and the presence (or absence) of signs of diabetes, liver, and kidney diseases.
What the Researchers Discovered
The results published in the journal Sleep Health revealed that about two-thirds of all participants slept between seven and nine hours per night. Sixteen percent reported sleeping less than seven hours, while 19% slept more than nine hours.
On average, participants’ sleep times varied by an hour each night, according to the Daily Mail. On weekends, they slept an additional 78 minutes. The average sleep onset time shifted by an average of 42 minutes on weekdays and 66 minutes on weekends. Those with the least rigid sleep schedules had a biological age that was nine months older than those who adhered to a regular sleep routine.
Researchers believe that those who frequently change their bedtime and wake-up time disrupt their circadian rhythm, thereby increasing their biological age.
The team stated that their study is the first to link changes in sleep patterns to biological aging.
It’s worth noting that previous research has associated irregular sleep patterns with an increased risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cognitive disorders. All of these conditions are markers of increased biological age.