Researchers from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and IMDEA-Food reveal that sleeping too little or too much at night, as well as taking prolonged naps of more than one hour, is associated with an increased risk of death in older people, but only in those who do not get enough physical activity. The study, which analyzed data from more than 5,600 older adults over nine years, reinforces the importance of an active lifestyle for healthy aging.
A study, conducted by a team of researchers from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), the CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pùblica (CIBERESP) and the Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Alimentación (IMDEA-Food), has revealed how sleep patterns and physical activity are associated with mortality in older adults.
The paper, entitled "Associations between nighttime sleep, daytime naps, and physical activity with all-cause mortality in older adults," analyzed data from more than 5,600 participants in the Seniors-ENRICA cohorts, with a mean follow-up of more than 9 years.
The researchers identified that both sleeping too little (less than 7 hours) and sleeping too much (more than 8 hours) during the night were associated with an increased risk of mortality. A similar effect was detected in those who took prolonged naps (more than 60 minutes). However, these relationships were only observed in people who did not comply with physical activity recommendations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that older adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or an equivalent combination each week. In those participants who achieved these levels, no relationship was identified between hours of sleep or duration of naps and risk of death.
"The most important finding of our study is that regular physical activity can counteract or even eliminate the adverse effects of insufficient or excessive nighttime sleep and prolonged naps on mortality," explains Miguel Angelo Duarte Junior, first author of the study. "An adequate level of physical activity could reduce or neutralize these risks associated with unhealthy sleep patterns."
A key strategy for healthy aging
These results underscore the importance of adopting an active lifestyle as a key factor for healthy aging. In a society with an increasingly aging population, understanding how sleep and physical activity affect longevity is crucial. This study not only highlights the relevance of balancing both factors, but suggests that encouraging physical activity could be an effective strategy to reduce the detrimental effects of irregular sleep patterns.
Adopting an active lifestyle as a key factor for healthy aging
"The findings of this research could be applied in public health programs that promote physical activity as a measure to mitigate the risks associated with dysregulated sleep in older adults," notes Duarte Junior. In addition, the study provides a basis for health professionals to develop specific interventions that combine sleep and physical activity recommendations tailored to the needs of older adults.
Solid data to promote active aging
The study is based on data from two large Spanish cohorts, Seniors-ENRICA 1 and Seniors-ENRICA 2, which include more than 6,000 people over 60 years of age. Information was obtained through telephone interviews and home visits in which physical examinations were performed and biological samples were collected. To assess the duration of nighttime sleep and daily naps, participants were asked how many hours they usually slept at night and during the day (siesta) on a regular basis. Physical activity was measured using a validated questionnaire that assessed weekly time spent walking, cycling, housework, sports and other activities.
This work adds to a growing body of scientific evidence that underscores the importance of an active lifestyle for health in old age. In older adults, sleep tends to be more fragmented and naps more common, which has led to research into how these patterns affect health. Although previous studies have linked nightly sleep duration to mortality risk, this is one of the first to consider the role of physical activity in this relationship.
The results are particularly relevant, as they suggest that physical activity can attenuate the negative effects of too much or too little sleep. Moreover, they provide a new perspective on naps: while short naps may be beneficial, long naps are associated with an increased risk of mortality, but only in physically inactive people.
Physical activity for healthy sleep
In a context where sedentary lifestyles are a growing problem among older adults, this study reinforces the need to integrate physical activity into daily life to protect health, even in those with suboptimal sleep patterns.
In summary, the paper concludes that insufficient or excessive nocturnal sleep, as well as prolonged naps, increase the risk of mortality, but only in people who do not get enough physical activity. The key recommendation is clear: staying physically active is crucial to neutralize the detrimental effects of irregular sleep. Promoting physical activity, together with good sleep habits, should be a central objective in health policies aimed at the elderly.
The study thus opens the door to future work exploring in greater detail the interactions between sleep, physical activity and other lifestyle factors, and their impact on longevity.
Bibliographic reference:
Duarte Junior, M. A., Martinez-Gomez, D., Pintos-Carrillo, S., Lopez-Garcia, E., Rodríguez-Artalejo, F., & Cabanas-Sánchez, V. (2024). Associations of nighttime sleep, midday napping, and physical activity with all-cause mortality in older adults: the Seniors -ENRICA cohorts. GeroScience, 1-13.
More scientific culture in UAM Gazette
