Finding the sleep 'sweet spot' could help you live longer, study suggests

May 22, 2026 - 01:51

A study published in the journal Nature suggests that getting the right amount of sleep might be more important than previously thought for longevity. Researchers found that people who sleep too little or too much show signs of accelerated biological aging and a higher risk for chronic disease. The study tracked thousands of adults over several years, measuring their sleep patterns and comparing them with markers of cellular health.

The findings point to a sleep "sweet spot" of roughly seven to eight hours per night. Those who consistently slept fewer than six hours had blood markers that suggested their bodies were aging faster than their peers. On the other end, sleeping more than nine hours was also linked to increased inflammation and a higher likelihood of developing conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

The researchers emphasized that quality matters as much as quantity. Interrupted sleep or irregular schedules seemed to cancel out some of the benefits of hitting the right hour count. While the study does not prove that bad sleep directly causes aging, it adds to a growing pile of evidence that sleep is a key pillar of health. For now, the advice remains simple: aim for consistent, restful sleep without obsessing over a perfect number. The body, it seems, knows what it needs.