A study has found that insufficient sleep may shorten a person’s lifespan, emerging as a key predictor of longevity compared to other lifestyle factors.
The research, published in the journal SLEEP Advances by scientists from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), identified a direct correlation between widespread sleep insufficiency and lower life expectancy across U.S. counties.
Lead author Andrew W. McHill and his team analyzed health data from 2019 to 2025. They found that communities with higher rates of adults getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night consistently showed shorter average lifespans.
The researchers noted that while public health messaging often emphasizes diet and exercise, sleep sufficiency emerged as one of the strongest behavioral drivers of reduced life expectancy.
Their analysis showed that lack of sleep had a stronger association with shorter lifespans than poor diet, physical inactivity, or social isolation.
Among the variables studied, only smoking ranked as a stronger predictor of mortality.
The study emphasized that adults should get at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night, underscoring that adequate rest should be treated as a critical pillar of public health rather than a personal luxury.
Regardless of income, healthcare access, or geography, insufficient sleep was linked to shorter life expectancy in both high- and low-income counties, as well as in urban and rural areas.
The researchers concluded that public health initiatives should prioritize sleep hygiene alongside traditional interventions such as exercise and nutrition to improve overall population longevity.
