Summary: A recent study links sleep preferences to brain performance. Researchers found that “night owls” often perform better on cognitive tests than “early risers.” The researchers analyzed data from more than 26,000 people and found that getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night optimizes brain function.
People who prefer to sleep in the evening performed better than those who prefer to sleep in the morning, with significant differences in cognitive scores. Adjusted for health and lifestyle factors, the results highlight the importance of aligning sleep habits with natural preferences.
Highlights:
- Optimal sleep duration: 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night stimulates cognitive functions.
- Impact of chronotype: Night owls perform better on cognitive tests than morning larks.
- Lifestyle factors: Healthier lifestyles and younger age are correlated with better cognitive performance.
Source: Imperial College London
A study examining the effect of sleep on brain performance found a link between an individual’s preference for morning or nighttime activity and their brain function, suggesting that self-proclaimed “night owls” tend to have higher cognitive scores overall.
Researchers at Imperial College London looked at data from more than 26,000 people to find out how different aspects of sleep – including duration, patterns and quality – affected mental acuity and overall cognitive abilities.
Using data from the vast UK Biobank database, they analysed information on British adults who had completed a number of cognitive tests, including whether people described themselves as a ‘morning person’ or an ‘evening person’, referring to the time of day when they feel most alert and productive.
The study, published in BMJ Public Healthfound that sleeping between seven and nine hours a night was optimal for brain function, boosting cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning and information processing speed.
In contrast, sleeping less than seven hours or more than nine hours had a clearly detrimental effect on brain function.
The study also found that a person’s chronotype (an individual’s preference for evening or morning activities, commonly referred to as “night owls” and “morning larks” respectively) also affected test scores.
Owls, that is, adults who are naturally more active in the evening, performed better on the tests than those who were morning-oriented. Larks consistently showed the lowest cognitive scores in both groups analyzed, with scores improving for the “intermediate” types (those who expressed a slight preference for day or night) and reaching higher levels for the evening types.
Evening types, or owls, scored about 13.5% higher than morning types in one group and 7.5% higher than morning types in another group. Intermediate sleepers, a mix of the two, also scored better, scoring about 10.6% and 6.3% higher than morning types in the two groups. These differences are highly significant, meaning they are very unlikely to be due to chance.
The analysis was adjusted for other health and lifestyle factors, such as age, gender, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and the presence of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Younger people and those without chronic diseases generally performed better on cognitive tests, while healthier lifestyle choices were generally associated with better cognitive performance.
Lead author of the study, Dr Raha West, from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, said: “Our study found that adults who are naturally more active in the evening (what we call ‘evening activity’) tend to perform better on cognitive tests than those who are ‘morning people’.
“Rather than simply being personal preferences, these chronotypes could have an impact on our cognitive functions.”
Dr West, who also holds an NIHR PhD fellowship, said: “It is important to note that this does not mean that all morning people have poorer cognitive performance. The results reflect a general trend that the majority may lean towards better cognition in evening people.”
“While it’s possible to change your natural sleep patterns by gradually adjusting your bedtime, increasing your exposure to evening light, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, completely transitioning from a morning person to an evening person is complex.”
She added: “While it’s essential to understand and manage your natural sleep patterns, it’s equally important to remember to get enough sleep – not too much and not too little. This is essential to keeping your brain healthy and functioning optimally.”
The researchers also found that while sleep duration was critical, people with insomnia did not have significantly worse cognitive performance outcomes in their cohorts. This may indicate that specific aspects of insomnia, such as its severity and duration of suffering, need to be considered.
Professor Daqing Ma, co-lead of the study and also a member of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College, said: “We found that sleep duration has a direct effect on brain function and we believe that proactive management of sleep habits is really important to boost and maintain our brain function.
“We would ideally like to see policy interventions to help improve the sleep habits of the general population.”
About this news on research on cognition and circadian rhythm
Author: Samantha Rey
Source: Imperial College London
Contact: Samantha Rey – Imperial College London
Picture: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Free access.
“Sleep duration, chronotype, health and lifestyle factors affect cognition: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank” by Daqing Ma et al. BMJ Public Health
Abstract
Sleep duration, chronotype, health and lifestyle factors affect cognition: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
Objective
To explore the nuanced relationship between sleep habits, chronotype, quality, and the influence of health and lifestyle factors on cognitive performance.
Design, framework, participants
This cross-sectional analysis used ordinary least squares regression in the UK Biobank database, assessing 26,820 participants aged 53–86 years, categorized into two cohorts: cohort 1 (10,067 participants, 56% female; completing all four cognitive tests of fluid intelligence/reasoning, paired matching, reaction time, and prospective memory) and cohort 2 (16,753 participants, 56% female; completing only two cognitive assessments of paired matching and reaction time).
Exhibitions
Participants self-reported sleep duration, chronotype, and quality. Cognitive function was assessed using standardized computerized tests. Analysis was adjusted for demographic and comorbidity covariates.
Main results and measures
Cognitive performance scores were assessed according to sleep parameters and health and lifestyle factors, including gender, age, vascular and cardiac problems, diabetes, alcohol consumption, smoking habits and body mass index.
Results
Regression showed a positive association between normal sleep duration (7–9 hours) and cognitive scores in cohort 1 (β = 0.0567, 95% CI 0.0284 to 0.0851), while prolonged sleep duration had a negative impact on scores in both cohorts (cohort 1: β = −0.188, 95% CI −0.2938 to −0.0822; cohort 2: β = −0.2619, 95% CI −0.3755 to −0.1482). Chronotype distinctions, particularly intermediate and evening types, were related to higher cognitive function. Gender, age, angina, high blood pressure, diabetes, alcohol consumption and smoking emerged as important cognitive influencers.
Conclusions and relevance
The study highlights a multifaceted and nuanced relationship between sleep variables, health, and lifestyle factors in determining cognitive outcomes. These findings underscore the critical role of sleep quality on cognitive health.
News Source : neurosciencenews.com
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