Research has shown that having a regular sleep pattern can help you live longer according to recent article published in Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience. We all know sleep is necessary to maintain good physical and mental health. Sleep patterns change as we age which can affect a person’s health. The researchers wanted to find out if there was a difference in health levels according to a person’s sleep patterns compared to their age. Therefore, the study participants were divided into three age groups. The first group was aged between 20-30, another between 60-70 and the last group were older individuals between 85 and 105.
The participants were given a questionnaire to find out their sleep habit characteristics and spent one night in a sleep study to diagnose any sleep pattern disorders. Blood tests were given to keep track of the participants cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels. After 23 weeks the participants were tested again and spent another night in the sleep study and kept a sleep journal for one week. Because of limitations of some of the older individuals, some of the participants only participated in one night of the sleep study.
The group of the oldest individuals had strict regular sleep-wake schedules and also had higher HDL-cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels than the group of older adults. The study revealed new data regarding specific sleep patterns in the oldest group. The maintenance of their slow wave sleep taken together with the favorable lipid levels, contribute with evidence to just how important sleep and lipid metabolism regulation are to human longevity.
The results suggest that having regular sleep patterns may reduce the risk of certain diseases. Disruption of a sleep pattern for an extended period of time can be detrimental to a person’s health and longevity. A regular sleep pattern maintains favorable lipid profiles which are important. If a person is always trying to catch up on their sleep, these changes affect lipid metabolism and consequently can lead to a shorter lifespan.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Human longevity is associated with regular sleep patterns, maintenance of slow wave sleep, and favorable lipid profile
