Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University examined survey data relating to longevity across different American counties.
As reported by Science Daily, they cross-referenced county-level life expectancy figures with extensive survey data collected by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2025. Their analysis revealed that the link between sleep duration and life expectancy proved more substantial than connections with diet, exercise, or social isolation.
Lead researcher Andrew McHill said, “I didn’t expect it to be so strongly correlated to life expectancy. We’ve always thought sleep is important, but this research really drives that point home: people really should strive to get seven to nine hours of sleep if at all possible.”
He continued: “It’s intuitive and makes a lot of sense, but it was still striking to see it materialise so strongly in all of these models. I’m a sleep physiologist who understands the health benefits of sleep, but the strength of the association between sleep sufficiency and life expectancy was remarkable to me.”
While earlier studies have linked inadequate sleep with increased mortality risk, this research marks the first occasion where yearly connections between sleeping habits and lifespan have been established across each US state. The study did not delve into the biological processes behind this relationship.
Nevertheless, McHill explained that sleep plays an essential role in heart health, immune function, and mental sharpness. “This research shows that we need to prioritise sleep at least as much as we do to what we eat or how we exercise,” he said.
“Sometimes, we think of sleep as something we can set aside and maybe put off until later or on the weekend. Getting a good night’s sleep will improve how you feel, but also how long you live.”
As mentioned, this is not the initial study to link longevity with sleeping patterns. In 2023, researchers identified five crucial rest habits that may contribute to a longer life.
Life expectancy proved 4.7 years longer for males and 2.4 years extended for females who demonstrated all five quality sleep characteristics. This stood in contrast to individuals possessing none or merely one of the five beneficial low-risk sleep factors.
These five behaviours were:
- Getting seven or eight hours of sleep a night
- Difficulty falling asleep no more than twice a week
- Trouble staying asleep no more than twice a week
- Not using any sleep medication
- Feeling well rested when waking up at least five days a week
Throughout the study, researchers analysed data from more than 172,000 American volunteers, with an average age of 50, who participated in an annual health questionnaire incorporating enquiries about sleep patterns and night-time routines.
Participants were tracked for an average period of 4.3 years, with 8,681 deaths recorded. Among these fatalities, cardiovascular disease accounted for 30 per cent, cancer was responsible for 24 per cent, and other causes made up the remaining 46 per cent.
Researchers assessed the five separate components of quality sleep using a low-risk sleep score they formulated from survey responses. Study co-author and clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School, Doctor Frank Qian, remarked: “If people have all these ideal sleep behaviours, they are more likely to live longer.”
He continued: “Younger people need to understand that a lot of health behaviours are cumulative over time. Just like we like to say, ‘it’s never too late to exercise or stop smoking,’ it’s also never too early. And we should be talking about and assessing sleep more often.”
The research team also highlighted that roughly eight per cent of fatalities from all causes might be attributed to poor sleeping patterns. “I think these findings emphasise that just getting enough hours of sleep isn’t sufficient,” Dr Qian remarked.
“You really have to have restful sleep and not have much trouble falling and staying asleep.”
Source: Cambridge News