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Wenzhou, China — January 2025
Fluctuations in sleep duration as people age are linked to reduced chances of “successful aging,” according to researchers at Wenzhou Medical University. Published in BMC Public Health, the nine-year study tracked 3,306 older adults, examining how changes in sleep patterns influenced key health indicators for aging well.
The study defined successful aging by five components: the absence of major chronic diseases, physical independence, high cognitive function, good mental health, and active social engagement. Participants, all initially free of chronic diseases, were grouped into five sleep duration categories: normal-stable, long-stable, decreasing, increasing, and short-stable.
Findings revealed that participants with short-stable or increasing sleep patterns had significantly lower odds of achieving successful aging. Adjusted odds ratios stood at 0.48 for short-stable sleepers and 0.64 for those with increasing sleep duration. Decreasing sleep duration showed a trend toward lower odds but lacked statistical significance. In contrast, long-stable and normal-stable sleep patterns were associated with higher odds of successful aging.
These results underscore the importance of consistent and stable sleep patterns for maintaining health and independence later in life. The findings carry particular significance in China, where an aging population poses growing healthcare challenges. Although the country’s average life expectancy has risen to 77.6 years, the gap between total life expectancy and healthy life expectancy remains nearly nine years.
As policymakers and healthcare professionals grapple with the demands of an aging society, the study suggests that promoting healthy sleep habits may play a critical role in extending the quality of life for older adults.
Source: MedicalXpress
