OHSU Study Finds Under 7 Hours of Sleep Predicts Longevity More Than Diet or Exercise
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · May 8
OHSU Study Finds Under 7 Hours of Sleep Predicts Longevity More Than Diet or Exercise
1 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · May 8
U.S. survey data from 2019 to 2025 showed sleeping less than 7 hours a night was more strongly linked to lower life expectancy than poor diet or physical inactivity.
OHSU researchers said the association held even after adjusting for factors including employment status, education and exercise, with only smoking showing a stronger link to shorter lifespan.
The study was observational, so it cannot prove too little sleep directly cuts years off life or fully separate sleep's effects from diet and exercise.
Researchers pointed to obesity and diabetes as likely pathways tying poor sleep to mortality and reiterated guidance to aim for 7 to 9 hours a night.
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How Sleep Duration Shapes Life Expectancy: New Research Shows Sleep Rivals Smoking as a Longevity Predictor
Overview
Groundbreaking research from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has established a strong link between sleep duration and life expectancy, showing that adequate sleep is a critical and often underestimated factor for living longer. The study found clear correlations between sleep patterns and life expectancy across most U.S. states and years, highlighting that prioritizing sleep is as important as diet and exercise. Insufficient sleep is one of the top behavioral predictors of a shorter lifespan, second only to smoking, which elevates sleep from a lifestyle choice to a fundamental pillar of health. The study defined sufficient sleep as seven hours or more per night.