How long do we need to sleep a day to ensure the health of the body and brain? There are various recommendations that it depends on the age of each individual. We once read to an adult 5 hours is enough. But a recent study from Cambridge University and Fudan University researchers found the most optimal sleep duration is 7 hours.
The study analyzed health data of nearly 500,000 adults aged between 38-73 years. This consists of data on their sleep patterns, mental health and physical health. Based on this data, 7 hours is found to be the most optimal sleep period.
Seven hours is optimal because sleeping too short or too long has an impact on cognitive ability especially in the elderly. Previously disturbed sleep is believed to contribute to the accumulation of toxic proteins that lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
So for those who want mental and physical health, make sure you get optimal sleep duration and not just enough.
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