More REM Sleep Tied to Lower Risk of 83 Diseases
What Happened
Researchers published findings in PLOS Medicine analyzing data from 95,559 UK Biobank participants with an average age of 56. Participants wore wrist accelerometers for one week to measure sleep stages and were followed for nearly nine years. The study found that greater REM sleep was associated with reduced risk of 83 diseases, including heart failure, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and dementia. More deep sleep lowered risks for seven conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, depression, and sleep apnea. Conversely, irregular sleep patterns and prolonged wakefulness after sleep onset were linked to higher risks of anxiety, substance dependence, and osteoarthritis. Researchers concluded that 6–8 hours of sleep per night is optimal for long-term health.
Key Takeaways
The study underscores the importance of quality sleep, not just duration. REM and deep sleep play distinct protective roles against chronic diseases, while irregular sleep increases health risks. Maintaining consistent sleep routines may be as vital as diet and exercise for disease prevention.