Getting enough shut-eye might matter more for how long you live than what you eat or how often you hit the gym, a new study has revealed.
Research from Oregon Health & Science University has found insufficent sleep is more closely tied to a shorter lifespan than diet, physical activity, or even loneliness.
The study, published in the journal SLEEP Advances, analysed data from across the United States and found the pattern held steady year after year. Only smoking showed a stronger link to reduced life expectancy than insufficient sleep.
The team behind the study examined a substantial national database, looking at survey patterns connected to life expectancy across counties throughout America.
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The team behind the study examined a substantial national database
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They matched up county-level life expectancy figures with detailed survey information gathered by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention between 2019 and 2025.
When the researchers weighed up various lifestyle factors against how long people tend to live, sleep emerged as a standout. Its connection to life expectancy proved stronger than diet, exercise, or social isolation.
This marks the first study to track these year-by-year connections between sleep and lifespan across every US state.
"I didn't expect it to be so strongly correlated to life expectancy," said senior author Andrew McHill, associate professor in the OHSU School of Nursing, the OHSU School of Medicine and OHSU's Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences.
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"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."
Mr McHill, a sleep physiologist, admitted he was taken aback by just how powerful the link turned out to be.
"It's intuitive and makes a lot of sense, but it was still striking to see it materialise so strongly in all of these models," he said.
A proper night's rest could help you live longer
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The study did not dig into the biological mechanisms behind this connection. However, Mr McHill pointed out that sleep plays a vital role in keeping your heart healthy, your immune system functioning properly, and your brain performing at its best.
"This research shows that we need to prioritise sleep at least as much as we do to what we eat or how we exercise," he said. "Sometimes, we think of sleep as something we can set aside and maybe put off until later or on the weekend."
He stressed that a proper night's rest won't just leave you feeling better – it could help you live longer too.
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