Sleep: A Simple yet Crucial Factor in Healthy Ageing

Diet plans and fitness regimes usually dominate conversations around healthy ageing. But a medical expert has drawn attention to a far simpler, and often neglected, factor: sleep. According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, the amount and quality of sleep a person gets each night can have a larger impact on longevity than diet, exercise or even social habits. Chronic sleep deprivation, he says, is not just a lifestyle issue but a serious health risk that can quietly undo the benefits of otherwise healthy routines. Sleep is more important for longevity than diet, exercise, social ties, new research saysA large new analysis published in SLEEP Advances examined sleep data alongside life expectancy across many regions of the United States. The key finding:➡️ People who averaged less than…pic.twitter.com/BbBYEW0WU1 — Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor)December 14, 2025 What The Doctor Said His comments follow a recent analysis published in SLEEP Advances, which examined sleep duration and life expectancy across the US. The researchers compared sleep patterns while accounting for variables such as income levels, dietary habits, physical activity and access to healthcare. The conclusion was clear. Those who regularly slept fewer than seven hours a night tended to have a shorter life expectancy than those who slept between seven and nine hours. Medical evidence shows that insufficient sleep places sustained stress on the body. It is linked to higher blood pressure, increased inflammation and elevated cholesterol levels. These significantly raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Sleep is also important for metabolic recovery, with prolonged sleep loss contributing to insulin resistance and a higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Sleep Is Not Just a Rest Period “Sleep is not just a ‘rest period,’ it is a biological necessity that affects how long and how well we live," said Dr Kumar. The brain, too, suffers when sleep is compromised. Poor or fragmented sleep affects memory, decision-making, and emotional control, while long-term disruption has been associated with early signs of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Kumar highlighted these risks in a detailed note on the subject. “Even modest chronic sleep insufficiency appears to impact fundamental health determinants, likely through effects on cardiovascular health, immune function, metabolism, and brain health," he wrote. Expanding on the cognitive consequences, he said, “Short or fragmented sleep impairs memory and brain function. Poor sleep quality is linked to worse cognitive performance and may be associated with early markers of Alzheimer’s pathology." He said poor sleep disrupted the body’s metabolic and immune systems, with studies showing that lack of rest changes proteins linked to blood clotting, immunity and inflammation. In contrast, consistently sleeping seven to nine hours a night is associated with improved heart health and better mental well-being. Swipe Left For Next Video Dr Kumar advised adults to treat sleep as a long-term investment in health rather than a luxury. He recommended simple measures such as reducing screen time before bed, limiting caffeine intake in the evening, eating lighter dinners and creating a quiet and relaxed sleeping environment.