Seven hours of sleep per night is the ideal amount in middle to older age, a study has suggested. Both too much and too little sleep are associated with poorer cognitive performance and mental health, according to researchers from Cambridge University and Fudan University in China.
Scientists examined data from nearly 500,000 adults, aged between 38 and 73, from the UK Biobank. Participants were asked about their sleeping patterns, mental health and wellbeing, and took part in a series of cognitive tests.
Brain imaging and genetic data were available for almost 40,000 of the study participants. The researchers’ analysis of the data indicated that seven hours of sleep per night was the optimal amount for cognitive performance, such as processing speed, visual attention, memory and problem-solving skills.
