New Dementia Research Suggests You Might Want To Aim For Over 6 Hours Of Sleep

This research analyzed existing data from a long-term study on nearly 8,000 British people since 1985, conducted by University College London. As part of the research project, participants reported how long they slept multiple times over 25 years. Some of them also wore sleep-tracking devices to make sure they were giving accurate numbers on their sleep duration.

A team of researchers then looked for any correlation between poor sleep and a greater risk for dementia down the line.

Researchers have long suspected that there is a link between sleep and dementia risk, but they've been unsure where that link begins. That is, we don't know if a lack of sleep can predispose people to dementia or if dementia throws off people's sleep.

Sure enough, a correlation was found—though the study authors are careful to note their research still can't prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between sleep and dementia.

That said, within the group of almost 8,000 participants, researchers found that middle-aged adults who consistently clocked low sleep durations were 30% more likely to develop dementia—regardless of sociodemographic, behavioral, cardiometabolic, and mental health factors. 

While the jury is still out on whether this connection is a direct cause-and-effect, it's certainly a good reason to consider getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, particularly if you're in your 50s or 60s and/or have a history of dementia in your family.