New Research Says Exercising Without Enough Sleep Diminishes Workout Benefits

For this study, researchers wanted to assess the cognitive benefits of working out as they relate to aging and sleep habits and namely, how much sleep a person gets. To do so, they used data collected over 10 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), looking at factors like sleep duration, amount of physical activity, and cognitive function tests.

And as it turns out, based on their findings, there is a significant link between cognitive decline and working out on inadequate sleep.

For instance, study participants who were relatively more active but regularly slept less than six hours a night had faster cognitive decline over the course of the study. By the end of the 10 years, in fact, their cognitive function was no better than the participants who were less active.

On the flip side, the participants who were more physically active and getting six to eight hours of sleep a night had better cognitive functioning overall.

The findings of this study are not only another good reason to prioritize getting quality sleep but further, highlight the importance of taking a well-rounded approach to cognitive health and longevity, which includes working out and getting enough sleep.

To that end, whether you have a super-active lifestyle or just want to support your cognition, it's never a bad idea to up your sleep hygiene.

From going to bed and waking up at the same time every day to getting natural light in the morning and limiting caffeine before bed, there are plenty of ways to get more sleep every night.

It's also worthwhile to take a quality sleep-supporting supplement with ingredients that are research-backed to help you sleep deeper, like magnesium and pharmaGABA. (Here are nine of our favorites—all vetted by a nutrition scientist.)