1. Poor Brain Health
Studies have linked sleep problems to poor thinking and memory skills later in life, which could put people at higher risk for dementia, says Clémence Cavaillès, PhD, a researcher at the University of California in San Francisco.
The study, which followed 600 middle-aged participants over 15 years, found that people with the greatest number of sleep complications had an average brain age that, over this time period, became 2.6 years more advanced than people with the fewest sleep issues.
Bad sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and early morning awakening were linked to greater brain age, especially if the issue persisted over five years.
A prematurely aging brain has significant implications for numerous aspects for cognitive health, daily functioning, and overall well-being, says Cavaillès.
“Specifically, advanced brain aging has been associated with worse cognitive functions and Alzheimer disease–related atrophy patterns,” she says.
2. Depression and Anxiety
Sometimes separate treatments are needed to help with the sleep problems and the anxiety or depression, but in some cases improving sleep can help mood, too, says Dr. Khan.
3. Type 2 Diabetes
Poor quality sleep or short sleep duration has been linked to poorer blood sugar control in people with and without diabetes, says Khan. It can increase risk of developing diabetes as well, she says.
4. Weight Gain and Obesity
There is a strong link between having sleep issues and being overweight or having obesity. That’s because not getting enough sleep on a regular basis (sleep deprivation) can create an imbalance in the hormones that regulate your appetite, ghrelin and leptin.
5. Hypertension, Heart Disease, and Stroke
People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have higher risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke, says Khan.
6. Kidney Problems
The link between sleep and kidney health hasn’t been as firmly established as the link between sleep and other chronic conditions, says Khan.
7. Impaired Immune Function
Not getting enough or good enough quality sleep can shortchange your immune system, says Khan.
“There is evidence that getting plenty of sleep can benefit your immune system and that impaired sleep is linked with being more susceptible to infections,” she says.
Research has linked poor sleep to an increased susceptibility to certain types of illness. People who chronically get less than seven hours of sleep a night are 3 times as likely to develop the common cold compared with those who routinely get eight hours or more of sleep.
8. A Less Healthy Gut
The gut microbiome is all the microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that are found in the gastrointestinal tract, and experts believe that the more diverse the microbiome, the better it is for overall health.
There are some studies that suggest that altered sleep — for example, what night shift workers would experience — may impact your gut health, Khan says.
Investigators also found several types of gut bacteria may be involved in many different aspects of sleep regulation, which suggests the relationship between sleep and the gut goes in both directions.
The Takeaway
- Poor sleep quality may lead to cognitive problems and a higher risk of dementia, with studies showing a correlation between sleep issues and accelerated brain aging.
- Chronic sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of depression and anxiety, with about 40 percent of those with insomnia experiencing clinical depression.
- Sleep problems are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome due to impaired blood sugar control.
- Regularly getting less than five hours of sleep is linked to a higher risk of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, potentially increasing coronary artery disease risk.
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