Impact of Sleep Types on Disease Risk

A recent study highlights the significance of different sleep types on the risk of various diseases. Conducted by researchers from Peking University and Capital Medical University in Beijing, the study indicates that more REM sleep, where dreaming occurs, is linked to a reduced risk of 83 diseases. Deep sleep, known for its physical restoration, correlates with a lower risk of seven diseases. Published in PLoS Medicine on September 17, this research is pivotal in understanding sleep’s role in health.

Importance of Sleep Types

During REM sleep, rapid eye movements occur, and vivid dreaming takes place. This stage is crucial for cognitive functions, such as emotional regulation, brain development, mental health, and memory enhancement.

Conversely, deep sleep features significant slowing of brain activity. Tissue repair, metabolic waste removal by the glymphatic system, and other vital processes happen during this stage.

Study Findings

The study analyzed data from wrist accelerometers worn by over 95,000 U.K. Biobank participants, tracked for a median of 8.9 years. Results show increased REM sleep duration reduces the risk of diseases like heart failure, hypotension, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

More deep sleep correlates with reduced risks of type 2 diabetes, major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, and Parkinson’s disease. The findings also observe that longer light sleep duration links to a higher risk of depression but a lower risk of heart failure and cellulitis.

Sleeping longer overall decreases the risk of around 50 conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Optimal sleep patterns involve six to eight hours per night, minimizing risk for various diseases.

Expert Opinions

Eve Van Cauter, University of Chicago, suggests the findings reinforce the essential role of sleep in health and well-being. Girardin Jean-Louis, University of Miami, emphasizes considering sleep architecture, regularity, and fragmentation, not just duration, when assessing sleep health.

Limitations exist, such as wrist accelerometry estimates, which differ from direct polysomnography measurements. Caution is advised when interpreting sleep stages from wearable devices.

Effects of Sleep on Health

Van Cauter highlights sleep’s role in physiology due to Earth’s 24-hour rotation. In the brain, sleep aids neuronal recovery and waste removal. Poor sleep is associated with hormonal imbalances, energy imbalance, and cravings, potentially leading to cardiometabolic conditions.

Makarem stresses that poor sleep increases stress, inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupts circadian rhythms, heightening disease risk.

Practical interventions promoting sleep health are needed, alongside diet and physical activity, to support healthy longevity and reduce chronic disease burden. Education on sleep’s importance should start early and progress with age.