Experts reveal EXACTLY how much sleep you need to live better as you age

According to experts, SEVEN hours is the ideal sleep duration for middle-aged and older people.

They found that getting too little or too much sleep can lead to poorer cognitive performance and mental health.

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This affects things like processing speed, visual attention, memory, and problem-solving skills.

Sleep patterns and habits of nearly 500,000 people between the ages of 38 and 73 were studied.

Research shows that those who slept longer or shorter than seven hours were more likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression and poorer overall well-being.

“Although we cannot conclusively say that too little or too much sleep causes cognitive problems, our analysis looking at people over time seems to support this idea,” said Professor Jianfeng Feng of Fudan University in China.

“But the reasons why older people sleep less well seem to be complex and are influenced by a combination of our genetic makeup and the structure of our brain.”

Scientists believe disrupting deep sleep may be one reason for the link between insufficient sleep and cognitive decline.

An insufficiently closed eye can also affect the brain’s ability to eliminate toxins.

“A good night’s sleep is important at all stages of life, but especially as we age,” said Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge.

“Finding ways to improve sleep for older people could be critical to helping them maintain good mental health and well-being and avoid cognitive decline, particularly for patients with psychiatric disorders and dementia.”

Their findings support previous studies linking sleep duration to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Cognitive decline is one of the main symptoms for both.

The research was published in the journal Nature Aging.

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