Sleep research links REM and deep sleep stages to lower disease risk

A study published in PLOS Medicine has identified significant links between specific sleep stages and the risk of developing various health conditions. Researchers from Capital Medical University analyzed data from 95,559 UK Biobank participants, using wrist-worn movement sensors to track sleep patterns over seven days and following their health records for a median of 8.9 years.

The research found that individuals sleeping fewer than five hours faced higher risks for 37 different health conditions, while the lowest risk for many diseases was observed in those sleeping six to eight hours.

Specific sleep stages showed distinct health correlations. Increased REM sleep was associated with a lower risk of 83 conditions, including dementia, heart failure, and Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, increased deep sleep was linked to lower risks for seven conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder. Conversely, frequent nighttime waking and irregular sleep schedules were associated with higher risks for several health problems.