Lack of Sleep Linked to Shorter Life, Study Reveals

Research from the Oregon Health & Science University indicates that consistently sleeping less than seven hours can significantly reduce life expectancy. The findings reveal that inadequate sleep may have a stronger correlation with longevity than diet, exercise, or social isolation. This comprehensive analysis of nationwide data highlights the critical importance of sleep for long-term health.

Published on January 10, 2026, in the journal SLEEP Advances, the study draws from extensive survey data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2019 and 2025. Researchers analyzed life expectancy figures across various counties in the United States, identifying sleep duration as a prominent predictor of how long people live.

Key Findings on Sleep and Longevity

The research team, led by senior author Andrew McHill, Ph.D., an associate professor in the OHSU School of Nursing and the OHSU School of Medicine, discovered that sleep was a more significant factor than lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise in determining life expectancy. Smoking was the only lifestyle factor that showed a greater impact.

“I didn’t expect it to be so strongly correlated to life expectancy,” McHill stated. “We’ve always thought sleep is important, but this research really drives that point home: People really should strive to get seven to nine hours of sleep if at all possible.”

The analysis revealed that the relationship between sleep duration and life expectancy remained consistent across nearly all U.S. states and throughout the years studied. This finding emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing sleep in discussions about health and wellness.

Surprising Strength of the Correlation

Much of the research was conducted by graduate students in the Sleep, Chronobiology and Health Laboratory at OHSU. While the health benefits of adequate sleep have long been acknowledged, the magnitude of the results surprised even seasoned researchers.

“It’s intuitive and makes a lot of sense, but it was still striking to see it materialize so strongly in all of these models,” McHill remarked. The study found that insufficient sleep had a greater predictive power for lifespan than both diet and physical activity, reinforcing the need for better sleep habits.

The research is groundbreaking as it is the first to track yearly trends related to sleep across every U.S. state. The researchers utilized the CDC’s definition of sufficient sleep—defined as at least seven hours per night—which aligns with guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

While the study did not delve into the biological mechanisms behind the connection between sleep and longevity, McHill noted that sleep is vital for maintaining heart health, immune function, and cognitive performance.

“This research shows that we need to prioritize sleep at least as much as we do to what we eat or how we exercise,” he explained. “Getting a good night’s sleep will improve how you feel but also how long you live.”

The research team included lead author Kathryn E. McAuliffe, B.S., Madeline R. Wary, B.S., Gemma V. Pleas, B.A., Kiziah E.S. Pugmire, B.S., Courtney Lysiak, B.A., Nathan F. Dieckmann, Ph.D., and Brooke M. Shafer, Ph.D.. Funding for the study was provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, as well as the OHSU School of Nursing and the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences.

These findings serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of sleep in our daily lives and long-term health strategies.