Poor Sleep Habits Linked to Brain Aging and Health Risks

WHO:

Alternet - Daniel E. Lieberman, a professor at Harvard University, and Madeline Ally, a graduate researcher at the University of Arizona, are involved in the discussion of sleep and health.

University of Arizona News - Gene Alexander, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, is a senior author of the study.

WHAT:

Alternet - A study published in Nature identifies the optimal sleep duration for adults as between 6 hours 24 minutes and 7 hours 48 minutes, with deviations linked to faster rates of aging and higher illness rates.

University of Arizona News - A study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia analyzed data from over 23,000 middle-aged and older adults, linking three sleep behaviors to brain aging: sleeping outside the recommended 7-9 hour range, frequent daytime napping, and sleeplessness.

University of Arizona News - The study found that participants sleeping fewer than seven hours per night had increased white matter lesion volumes compared to those within the recommended range.

WHERE:

University of Arizona News - The study was conducted by the University of Arizona and the University of Southern California.

WHEN:

University of Arizona News - Participants completed a baseline questionnaire from 2006 to 2010 and underwent brain MRI scans approximately nine years later.

WHY:

Alternet - The study suggests that both insufficient and excessive sleep can lead to health problems, including heart disease and depression.

University of Arizona News - The identified sleep behaviors are linked to greater volumes of white matter lesions, which are associated with a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

HOW:

University of Arizona News - The study utilized existing brain scans and questionnaire responses to measure sleep behaviors and their association with brain health.

(UPDATED June 7, 2026 17:19 UTC)

A new study published in the journal Nature has identified the optimal sleep duration for adults as between six hours and twenty-four minutes and seven hours and forty-eight minutes, linking deviations from this range to faster aging and higher illness rates. Conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona and the University of Southern California, the study analyzed data from over 23,000 middle-aged and older adults, revealing that insufficient sleep can lead to increased white matter lesions, which are associated with a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that both too little and too much sleep can contribute to serious health issues, such as heart disease and depression, highlighting the importance of maintaining healthy sleep habits.