A recent study from Oregon Health & Science University has found a significant link between getting enough sleep and life expectancy. This research suggests that insufficient sleep might actually lead to a shorter life.
The study was published in the journal SLEEP Advances and involved analyzing a large, nationwide database to identify trends related to life expectancy across various counties. Researchers compared this data with comprehensive surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2025.
Interestingly, sleep emerged as a more dominant factor influencing life expectancy than diet, exercise, and even loneliness—only smoking had a stronger association.
“I didn’t expect it to be so strongly correlated to life expectancy,” commented Andrew McHill, Ph.D., a senior author of the study and an associate professor in multiple departments at OHSU. “We’ve known sleep is important, but this really drives the point home: It’s crucial for people to aim for seven to nine hours of sleep when they can.”
The research was primarily conducted by graduate students in OHSU’s Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory.
While the benefits of adequate sleep have been recognized for a while, the researchers were surprised by the robustness of the connection to life expectancy. They found that insufficient sleep overcame the influences of diet and exercise as predictors of how long people live.
Although past studies have indicated that lack of sleep increases mortality risk, this research uniquely highlights annual correlations between sleep and life expectancy across all U.S. states. For this study, the CDC classified sufficient sleep as at least seven hours per night, a standard recommended by both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.
The analysis uncovered consistent correlations between sleep and life expectancy in most U.S. states each year. However, it did not explore why inadequate sleep might shorten life spans. McHill pointed out that sleep impacts cardiovascular health, immune function, and brain activity.
“Getting enough sleep not only enhances well-being but also extends life.”
Co-authors of the study include Kathryn E. McAuliffe, B.S., Madeline R. Wary, B.S., Gemma V. Pleas, B.A., Kiziah E.S. Pugmire, B.S., Courtney Lysiak, B.A., Nathan F. Dieckmann, Ph.D., and Brooke M. Shafer, Ph.D.
The research received support from various National Institutes of Health awards and the OHSU School of Nursing, along with funding from the state of Oregon.
