Getting Less Than 7 Hours of Sleep Linked to Shorter Lifespan

A study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University reveals that consistently sleeping less than seven hours a night may significantly reduce life expectancy. The research, published in the journal SLEEP Advances, highlights sleep as a crucial factor influencing longevity, more so than diet, physical activity, or social isolation.

To arrive at their conclusions, researchers analyzed extensive data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), focusing on survey patterns related to life expectancy across U.S. counties from 2019 to 2025. The analysis demonstrated that inadequate sleep correlates more strongly with shorter lifespans than other lifestyle factors, with smoking being the only exception.

Sleep Duration’s Impact on Lifespan

The study’s senior author, Andrew McHill, Ph.D., an associate professor at OHSU, expressed his surprise at the strength of the findings. “We’ve always thought sleep is important, but this research really drives that point home: People really should strive to get seven to nine hours of sleep if at all possible,” he stated.

Graduate students from the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory contributed significantly to the research. While previous studies acknowledged the health benefits of adequate sleep, the team was taken aback by how closely sleep duration aligned with life expectancy. “It’s intuitive and makes a lot of sense, but it was still striking to see it materialize so strongly in all of these models,” McHill noted.

Longitudinal Trends Across States

Unlike earlier research, this study is the first to track year-by-year trends connecting sleep and life expectancy across all U.S. states. The researchers utilized CDC’s definition of sufficient sleep—at least seven hours per night—which aligns with recommendations from both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. The data consistently showed a strong relationship between sleep duration and life expectancy across nearly all states in the years analyzed.

While the study did not delve into the biological mechanisms underlying the connection, McHill highlighted the critical roles of sleep in maintaining heart health, immune function, and cognitive performance. “This research shows that we need to prioritize sleep at least as much as we do what we eat or how we exercise,” he emphasized.

The findings suggest that individuals often underestimate the importance of sleep, viewing it as something that can be sacrificed for other commitments. “Getting a good night’s sleep will improve how you feel but also how long you live,” McHill concluded.

The research team included lead author Kathryn E. McAuliffe, B.S., along with Madeline R. Wary, B.S., Gemma V. Pleas, B.A., Kiziah E.S. Pugmire, B.S., Courtney Lysiak, B.A., Nathan F. Dieckmann, Ph.D., and Brooke M. Shafer, Ph.D.. Funding for this significant study was provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, as well as the OHSU School of Nursing and the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences.

These findings call for a reevaluation of how society perceives and prioritizes sleep, urging a shift towards recognizing its value in promoting longevity and overall health.