Gaby
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that insufficient, restless sleep can make people feel as much as ten years older.
They ran two studies to see how sleep affects perceived age.
How the Studies Were Conducted
In the first study, the researchers asked 429 participants to record the age they felt for 30 days. The volunteers also tracked how many nights they experienced sleep deprivation, according to the Daily Mail.
The analysis found that each extra day of sleep deprivation increased participants’ subjective age by 0.23 years.
In the second study, 182 people took part in a sleep-restriction experiment. For two nights, one group was limited to four hours in bed while the other could sleep nine hours each night. Volunteers in the sleep-restricted group felt 4.44 years older than those who slept nine hours.
Conclusions from the Studies
The researchers say sleep habits play a significant role in how old we feel.
They wrote, “Many people feel younger than their chronological age. However, this phenomenon is less common among younger individuals. Once we reach our 30s and beyond, the discrepancy between how old we are and how old we feel becomes more pronounced.”
“Feeling younger than your actual age is linked with a longer life, better mental and physical health, and more positive psychological traits,” the team added.
The scientists say our perception of age can be surprisingly variable. They wrote that the findings “open up new possibilities for cultivating a sense of youthfulness.” Good sleep quality is one key factor that contributes to feeling youthful.
The studies were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
