For years, most people have believed that eight hours of sleep is the gold standard for staying healthy. But new research suggests the ideal amount may actually be slightly lower.
A recent study published in Nature found that sleeping between 6.4 and 7.8 hours per night may be linked to better overall health, lower disease risk, and even slower biological aging.
Too Much or Too Little Sleep Could Affect the Body
Researchers analyzed data from nearly half a million participants through the UK Biobank, one of the world’s largest long-term health databases.
Using biological aging measurements across 23 organ systems, scientists examined how sleep duration may impact the body’s aging process over time.
Their findings showed that both short sleep and excessive sleep were associated with faster biological aging and a higher risk of several health conditions.
People sleeping less than six hours or more than eight hours tended to show larger “biological age gaps,” meaning their organs appeared older than expected for their actual age.
Health Risks Linked to Poor Sleep Patterns
The study connected short sleep durations with a greater likelihood of depression, anxiety, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Researchers also found links between unhealthy sleep patterns and respiratory and digestive issues, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastritis, and acid reflux.
Meanwhile, participants who regularly slept within the 6.4 to 7.8-hour range generally showed healthier aging markers and lower overall health risks.
Scientists Say Sleep Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle
Although the findings are gaining attention online, researchers emphasized that sleep alone does not directly determine whether someone will develop serious illness or die earlier.
Instead, sleep appears to be one of several important lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and aging.
Experts also noted that sleep quality may matter just as much as sleep duration, especially for people dealing with stress, irregular schedules, or underlying health conditions.
The research adds to growing evidence that consistently oversleeping may not be as harmless as many people assume, particularly when paired with other health problems.
For now, scientists say maintaining a balanced sleep schedule and focusing on overall wellness may be more important than chasing a perfect eight-hour target every night.
