Columbia University study links sleep duration to biological aging

A study by researchers at Columbia University, published in the journal Nature, suggests that both insufficient and excessive sleep are linked to accelerated biological aging across various organs and systems.

Analyzing data from approximately 500,000 individuals using 23 biological aging clocks, researchers assessed the aging rates of 17 different organ systems. The findings indicate that the slowest biological aging occurs in individuals sleeping between 6.4 and 7.8 hours per night. This pattern was observed in several vital areas, including the brain, heart, lungs, and immune system.

Disruptions in sleep patterns were also associated with various health conditions. Sleeping fewer than six hours per night was linked to depression, anxiety, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Both short and long sleep durations were associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and certain gastrointestinal issues such as gastritis and acid reflux.