A study published in eBioMedicine by the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) reveals that individuals who consistently lack sufficient sleep are at a higher risk of cognitive decline and may experience accelerated brain aging.
Researchers analyzed brain imaging data from 27,500 middle-aged and elderly participants in the UK Biobank. Each participant was scored on five sleep criteria: early bedtime, 7–8 hours of sleep per night, absence of insomnia, no snoring, and no excessive daytime sleepiness.
Results showed that for every one-point decrease in sleep score, the discrepancy between “brain age” and actual age increased by approximately 0.48 years. Those with average sleep quality had brains about 7 months older than those with healthy sleep. Meanwhile, individuals with the poorest sleep quality had brains about 1 year older.
Notably, the three factors most strongly linked to brain aging were late bedtime, irregular sleep duration, and snoring.
Scientists explain that sleep plays a critical role in helping the brain eliminate toxins and waste accumulated during the day. This “cleansing” system operates most effectively during sleep. Consequently, sleep deprivation not only increases the risk of cardiovascular disease but also negatively impacts neurological health and cognitive function.
However, researchers emphasize that sleep is just one of many factors influencing brain aging. The specific link between sleep and aging rates requires further validation through deeper studies.
One certainty remains: the advice “early to bed, early to rise” is timeless—not only for physical recovery but also as a natural “rejuvenation therapy” for the brain.
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