People who sleep little have poorer cognitive functions

A new study reveals that people who sleep little have slightly lower cognitive functions than individuals who sleep longer.

Sleep and cognitive functions are linked

Although health professionals recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, around half of the French population sleeps less (6.5% of us even spend less than 6 hours in the arms of Morpheus).

Faced with these figures, the author of the study Anders M. Fjel and his colleagues wanted to compare the cognitive functions and brain volumes of people who sleep little (less than 6 hours per night) to those of subjects who sleep 7 at 9 a.m. recommended. The atrophy of certain areas of the brain has in fact already been associated with a reduction in cognitive functions.

Participants were classified into two categories: short sleepers (6 hours or less) and sleepers with recommended sleep duration. These groups were then segmented based on reported sleep problems and daytime sleepiness.

Brain volumes are smaller in people who sleep little

After analysis, the results unsurprisingly revealed that people who slept less generally reported more daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances.

Imaging data also indicated that brain volumes were significantly smaller in people with little sleep, particularly in the brainstem and pallidum regions. People who slept longer but still suffered from sleep disturbances also had reduced volumes in the regions of the cerebellum, corpus callosum and pallidum.

What are the functions of sleep?

Sleep is a crucial physiological process characterized by a resting cycle of the body and brain. It contributes to tissue repair, hormonal regulation, strengthening the immune system, memory consolidation and mental clarity in general. In addition, sleeping well is essential for emotional stability, which in turn influences mood and resistance.

Insufficient or poor quality sleep can increase the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.