A analysis published in the magazine Nature identified how many hours of sleep per day are related to a lower risk of premature death and of diseases.

According to the study, the optimal point is between six to eight hours of sleep daily.

What happens if you sleep less than six to eight hours a day?

Sleeping more or less than recommended was associated with a accelerated aging.

“The results reinforce a promising hypothesis, improving sleep duration could be a viable way to reduce the risk of age-related diseases”said Abigail Dove, a neuroepidemiologist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, who was not involved in the study.

“Sleep affects all the organs of the body.”

Abigail Dove, neuroepidemiologist

However, the scientists clarified that the results do not imply that between six and eight hours is the optimal amount of sleep for all people; Nor do they demonstrate that achieving that ideal sleep range each day directly improves health or delays aging.

A previous study found that people who slept near seven hours a day had a smaller difference between their biological age and their chronological age, while the Aging seemed to accelerate in those who slept much more or much less.

What are the recommendations of international organizations?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends sleeping between seven and nine hours a day for adults, while school-age children, that is, between 6 and 12 yearsthey should sleep between 9 and 12 hours each night.

For its part, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warned that “sleeping less than seven hours per night on a regular basis is associated with negative health consequences, such as weight gain and obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, depression, and increased risk of death“.

He added that healthy sleep requires adequate duration, good quality, appropriate timing and regularity, and the absence of sleep disorders.