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Medical News Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Poor sleep linked to 172 diseases, including dementia, Parkinson's, diabetes
Getting enough quality sleep every night is important for good health, but the extent it affects overall health is still being researched. A new study has linked 172 different diseases, including dementia, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease to poor sleep patterns. Of those diseases, 92 of them had over 20% of their risk correlated with poor sleep enough quality sleep every night is important for good health. However, some people may still be unclear about what 'quality sleep' entails and what impact sleep really has on their health. '[Until] now we have not completely understood how sleep builds our health,' Qing Chen, PhD, associate professor at the Institute of Toxicology in the College of Preventive Medicine at the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University) in China, told Medical News Today.'Maybe we only know that sleep deprivation is harmful. No scientist has 100% confidence to tell us when we should sleep or when we should not sleep, [or] whether there are additional sleep tips that are important for health,' said Chen. 'This is not enough to make a really healthy sleep schedule.'Chen is the co-lead author of a study recently published in the journal Health Data Science that has linked 172 different diseases to poor sleep patterns. Of those diseases, 92 had over 20% of the risk correlated with poor sleep behavior. More than 20% of risk for 92 diseases linked to poor sleepFor this study, researchers analyzed medical data from more than 88,000 adults in the UK Biobank database to measure both their sleep traits and disease diagnoses. After an average 7-year follow-up, researchers associated 172 diseases with poor sleep patterns, including irregular bedtimes and off-circadian these, the risk for 42 diseases was at least doubled, including age-related physical debility, gangrene, fibrosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Chen and his team also discovered that 92 of the 172 diseases had more than 20% of their risk traceable to poor sleep, including dementia, primary hypertension, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and acute kidney failure. 'Sleep regularity (rhythm) should be taken into consideration, or a number of diseases may be induced, even if sleep duration is adequate,' Chen said. 'This is because sleep rhythm and sleep duration may be in charge of different aspects of our health.' 'We want to understand why disruption of sleep rhythm induces diseases, and how can we prevent or cure the diseases induced by sleep rhythm disruption,' he commented, when asked about the next steps for this research. Does lack of sleep cause these diseases?MNT spoke with Matthew Scharf, MD, PhD, regional sleep medicine director at Hackensack Meridian Health, and associate professor at Hackensack Meridian Medical School in New Jersey, about this study. Scharf, who was not involved in the research, commented that this study builds on mounting evidence showing that insufficient or poor sleep can negatively impact health. 'Strengths of the study include use of objective data and a very large sample size,' he explained. 'However, it shows many associations but does not necessarily show causation.''Sleep has emerged as an important modifiable behavior to improve health and longevity,' Scharf continued. 'The goal is to find out how sleep is linked with various diseases in order to have targeted interventions. For example, some groups may benefit from having a longer sleep duration. Others may benefit from having a more regular sleep schedule.' For next steps in this research, Scharf said the key piece would be to see if targeted interventions improve outcomes in each patient population. 'For example, in patients with Parkinson's disease, would a program that promoted a regular bedtime routine improve Parkinson's disease-related symptoms or quality of life metrics?' he asked. Sleep regularity matters more than sleep durationDaniel Truong, MD, a neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA and editor in chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, who was not involved in the recent study, told MNT that his reaction to this study's findings was one of surprising clarity: Sleep regularity matters more than sleep duration in explaining disease does 'good sleep' mean?'I was struck by how decisive rhythm, and regularity came across in this analysis — almost redefining what 'good sleep' means. It suggests that behavioral interventions focused on consistency and timing may offer health benefits beyond just aiming for a fixed number of hours.' — Daniel Truong, MD'It is crucial for researchers to continue investigating how sleep affects overall health because sleep is a foundational biological process that influences nearly every organ system — and yet it remains one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood contributors to disease risk and health maintenance,' Truong continued.'This recent study underscores why this research must continue. Unlike genetic predispositions or aging, sleep habits can be changed. Sleep affects multiple biological systems such as [the] immune system, endocrine, cardiovascular, [and] neurological problems,' he said. Inadequate sleep is rarely an isolated issueKatie S. McCullar, PhD, a fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, told MNT that this research reinforces the idea that sleep is not just a passive state but a vital process that supports nearly every aspect of health, and adds to a growing body of research that demonstrates that healthy sleep is one of the foundational determinants of health. McCullar, who was likewise not involved in the study, explained that:'Furthermore, this work highlights what is often observed in a clinical setting: That inadequate sleep is rarely an isolated issue, but rather an indicator or exacerbating factor in a wide range of chronic conditions.' 'It is encouraging to see more scientific evidence linking sleep quality and duration to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The data provide empirical support for the need to integrate sleep health more thoroughly into preventive and therapeutic care models,' she added. 'Sleep has historically been underemphasized in both clinical training and public health initiatives,' she continued. 'Continued research helps us understand the mechanisms behind these connections, allowing us to develop more effective and targeted interventions to prevent and treat diseases. Further, the integration of sleep health into broader frameworks of lifestyle medicine and health equity research is especially timely and warranted.' Tips for improving sleep for better overall healthIf you are one of the many adults experiencing sleep issues, you're not alone. Previous research shows that about 10% of people around the world live with insomnia, and about 20% experience occasional insomnia those looking to improve their nightly sleep, Jimmy Johannes, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, suggested setting a regular bedtime and keeping the sleep environment cool, dark, and quiet. 'Synchronizing with the day-night cycle by exposing yourself to some sunlight in the daytime and keeping lighting dim near bedtime can help prepare the brain for sleep at night,' Johannes continued.'Talk to your doctor about persistent difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, loud snoring or gasping during sleep, waking up tired in the morning, and/or excessive daytime fatigue or sleepiness. These issues may reflect a condition affecting sleep, such as sleep apnea or a mood disorder,' he advised.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Irregular sleep may raise risk of 172 diseases—including diabetes and kidney failure
For years, health experts have warned that both too little and too much sleep could negatively affect well-being. But new research suggests the problem might not be sleep quantity alone, but how consistently and accurately people sleep. A massive seven-year study, published in Health Data Science on June 3, 2025, tracked nearly 90,000 adults using wearable fitness trackers. The findings show that irregular sleep patterns—not just total sleep time—are strongly linked to an increased risk of 172 diseases, including Parkinson's, kidney failure, and Type 2 diabetes. Many health threats may begin silently, with poor sleep at the root. Irregular sleep is more harmful than you think The study revealed that many individuals who believed they were getting eight or more hours of sleep were actually sleeping much less—sometimes under six hours a night. These 'false long sleepers' skewed earlier research that relied heavily on self-reporting. When researchers compared objective data with self-reports, the supposed dangers of sleeping 'too much' mostly disappeared, pointing instead to irregular and inconsistent sleep as the real culprit behind rising health risks. Disrupted rhythms in sleep linked to chronic conditions Researchers used UK Biobank data and accelerometers to study sleep quality, duration, fragmentation, and timing. Led by Dr. Qing Chen from China's Third Military Medical University, the team found that irregular and fragmented sleep patterns were linked to a broad array of diseases—172 in total. These included: 37% higher risk of Parkinson's disease 36% higher risk of Type 2 diabetes 22% higher risk of acute kidney failure Sleep disruption also tripled the risk of frailty in older adults and doubled the risk of developing gangrene. Over 20% of disease cases could be preventable One of the most striking findings was that optimal, consistent sleep could potentially prevent more than 20% of cases for 92 different diseases. These included not only well-known conditions like heart disease and stroke, but also lesser-known associations such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver disorders. Sleep timing and regularity matter more than just hours While the traditional advice of sleeping 7–9 hours a night remains useful, this study emphasized that when you sleep and how consistent your schedule is may be even more important. People with erratic sleep times and inconsistent routines experienced significantly worse health outcomes—even if they logged enough total sleep hours. The researchers also identified biological markers that could explain the disease connection. Elevated levels of white blood cells and C-reactive protein were seen in participants with disrupted sleep—suggesting that chronic inflammation may be a major mechanism by which poor sleep contributes to disease. A wake-up call for healthier sleep habits Although the study is the largest of its kind, it was limited by a one-week data window and a predominantly White, healthy participant base. Yet even with these constraints, the findings held true across US-based NHANES data. The message is clear: irregular sleep can be dangerous, even if you think you're getting enough rest. Maintaining a stable sleep schedule may be a powerful, underappreciated way to protect your long-term health.
Hindustan Times
29-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Irregular sleep linked to ‘172 diseases' including diabetes, kidney failure and Parkinson's, finds largest-ever study
For years, sleep experts have cautioned against getting too much sleep, linking it to heart disease, depression, and even premature death. However, new findings from the largest study of its kind suggest the real issue may not be the amount of sleep but how inaccurately we report it. (Also read: Cardiologist explains how a simple blood test can predict heart attack risk years in advance: 'Before symptoms appear…' ) New study finds irregular sleep patterns tied to major health risks and chronic diseases. (Freepik) Why most people are wrong about how much they sleep Researchers equipped nearly 90,000 adults with fitness trackers to objectively measure sleep patterns and followed their health outcomes over seven years. The study published in the journal Health Data Science on June 3, 2025, found that many participants who claimed to sleep more than eight hours were actually getting six hours or less. These 'false long sleepers' were likely skewing previous studies that relied on self-reported sleep, inflating the perceived health risks of long sleep. The research reveals a major flaw in decades of sleep research, people often misjudge how much they sleep. When scientists looked specifically at people who both reported and objectively had long sleep durations, the associated health risks nearly vanished. Disrupted sleep rhythms linked to hundreds of diseases Led by Dr. Qing Chen from China's Third Military Medical University, the research used accelerometers from the UK Biobank to go beyond self-reporting. These wrist-worn trackers offered detailed insights not only into how long participants slept but also when they slept, how fragmented their sleep was, and how consistent their sleep patterns remained across days. Researchers found that optimal sleep could prevent over 20% of cases for 92 diseases. (Shutterstock) This granular data revealed that disrupted sleep rhythms, irregular schedules, poor consistency, and fragmented rest were linked to 172 diseases, including major chronic conditions. For example, individuals with highly disrupted sleep rhythms had three times the risk of age-related frailty and double the risk of developing gangrene. Even more strikingly, disrupted sleep rhythms were tied to: 37% of Parkinson's risk 36% of Type 2 diabetes risk 22% of acute kidney failure risk Researchers calculated that for 92 diseases, over 20% of cases could theoretically be prevented with optimal sleep. Sleep consistency matters more than duration While most health advice focuses on getting 7–9 hours of sleep, this study found that when and how consistently you sleep might be even more critical. Disrupted sleep rhythms were linked to 83 diseases not previously connected to sleep duration, conditions like COPD, kidney failure, and Type 2 diabetes. Validation through U.S.-based NHANES data confirmed these surprising associations, especially the strong link between irregular sleep and COPD. Researchers also identified biological markers, like elevated white blood cells and C-reactive protein, that may explain how disrupted sleep leads to disease through chronic inflammation. Despite its strengths, the study had limitations: it focused on a largely White, healthy group and measured only one week of sleep data.
