A recent study highlights the significant impact of even slight variations in sleep duration on teenagers' cognitive abilities. Researchers discovered that minor differences in sleep patterns can noticeably affect mental performance.
The study, involving over 3,000 adolescents, revealed that those who went to bed earlier and slept longer demonstrated better performance on cognitive tests. This group also exhibited the lowest heart rates during sleep, indicating a healthier rest.
According to the findings, the group with the most consistent sleep habits outperformed others in mental tests evaluating reading, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills. Brain scans suggested that this group had larger brain volumes and enhanced brain function. The data was gathered and analyzed from the 'Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study' (ABCD), a large-scale, long-term study on child health and brain development in the U.S., by researchers from Cambridge University and Fudan University. The study monitored sleep patterns using Fitbit watches.
While even the teens with the healthiest sleep habits often slept less than the recommended eight to ten hours, the study underscores that even small increases in sleep duration can lead to measurable improvements. Experts like Cambridge University's Professor Barbara Sahakian emphasize the importance of sleep for memory consolidation and recommend regular exercise and avoiding screen time before bed to improve sleep quality. Professor Colin Espie from Oxford University suggests incorporating sleep health education into high school curricula to address issues like 'social jet lag'.
Professor Gareth Gaskell from York University advocates for more intervention studies to assist teens with sleep disorders, suggesting that simple changes, such as managing screen time, can positively impact sleep duration and timing.