REM Sleep Linked to Lower Risk of Dozens of Diseases, Study Suggests
New research indicates the quality of sleep, particularly time spent in rapid eye movement, may be more crucial for health than duration.
The amount of time spent in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage associated with dreaming, may significantly impact an individual's risk of developing a wide range of diseases, according to a recent study.
While prior research has established that sleeping six to eight hours nightly can reduce the likelihood of certain health issues, less attention has been paid to the specific roles of different sleep stages. This new Chinese-led study, which analyzed data from over 95,000 adults in the UK, suggests a strong correlation between increased REM sleep and a lower incidence of 83 diseases.
REM sleep typically begins about 90 minutes after falling asleep and recurs in cycles, making up approximately 20% to 25% of total sleep time. The remaining sleep consists of light and deep sleep stages. The study noted that early waking can curtail REM sleep, as these periods tend to be longer in the latter half of the night.
To assess sleep patterns, researchers equipped participants with wrist sensors for seven days. They measured the duration of each sleep stage, total sleep time, instances of waking during the night, and overall sleep regularity. The participants were then monitored for approximately nine years to examine the connections between their sleep habits and over 1,000 different diseases.
The findings indicated that individuals who spent more time in REM sleep experienced a 26% lower risk of heart failure, a 46% reduced risk of dementia, and an 80% lower risk of Parkinson's disease. These associations were linked to an average of 48 additional minutes spent in REM sleep per night.
Furthermore, increased time spent in deep sleep was also associated with health benefits, including a lower risk of seven conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and major depression. Conversely, irregular sleep patterns and frequent night awakenings were linked to a higher risk of conditions including anxiety and substance use disorders.
The study also reaffirmed that participants who consistently slept for six to eight hours had the lowest overall disease risk. Those sleeping less than five hours per night faced an increased risk for 37 conditions.