Summary
New research has identified five different types of sleepers, each linked to specific mental health and cognitive effects. The study highlights the importance of personalized sleep assessments and challenges the idea that generic sleep advice is sufficient for everyone. The findings suggest that understanding individual sleep patterns could help in designing better health interventions.
Key Facts
- Researchers found five sleeper types: poor sleepers, resilient sleepers, sleep aid users, short sleepers, and disturbed sleepers.
- Poor sleepers often experience anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Resilient sleepers have mental health issues but few or no sleep problems.
- Sleep aid users rely on medication for sleep and may have strong social connections but weaker memory.
- Short sleepers get less than six to seven hours of sleep and may have poorer memory and higher aggression.
- Disturbed sleepers have fragmented sleep, are linked to anxiety, and poor cognitive performance.
- The study uses data from the Human Connectome Project, involving brain imaging and lifestyle measures.
- Researchers say the study shows relationships, not direct cause and effect, between sleep patterns and mental health.
