Less REM, Shorter Life

Getting enough sleep has been shown to be critically important to health. Now researchers have found that getting the right balance of sleep stages also makes a difference.

 

“In our busy, fast-paced lives, sleep can feel like a time-consuming nuisance,” said lead researcher Eileen Leary, senior manager of clinical research at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. “This study found in two independent cohorts that lower levels of REM sleep were associated with higher rates of mortality.”

 

During REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep, the body repairs itself and dreams occur. According to a July 7 article in Medical Xpress, the study found that for every 5% reduction in REM sleep, mortality rates increased 13% to 17% among middle-aged and older adults.

 

Researchers note that the study doesn’t prove reduced REM causes death, only that it’s associated with a risk of dying earlier.

 

“This study shows yet another reason for the importance of proper sleep and a good balance of sleep stages by assuring that any possible conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that can cause a reduction in REM be evaluated and managed,” said Michael Jaffee, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

 

The study was published online July 6 in JAMA Neurology.