A new study reveals that feeling older than your actual age may have significant implications for your health, particularly when it comes to sleep. Released on Tuesday, the research indicates that individuals who perceive themselves as older than their chronological age are more likely to experience poor sleep quality, symptoms of insomnia, and reduced physical function throughout the day.
Study Details and Findings
Conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the study surveyed nearly 3,200 adults and found that those who felt older reported more sleep-related impairments, lower overall sleep health, and less sleep regularity. Notably, these associations remained significant even after adjusting for chronological age, depression, and anxiety, according to Dr. Joseph Dzierzewski, senior vice president of research and scientific affairs at the National Sleep Foundation.
While the researchers did not establish a causal mechanism, past studies have linked feeling older than one's age to an increased risk of premature death, whereas feeling younger has been associated with slower brain aging. This adds to the growing body of evidence that mindset can influence physical health, similar to the effects of stress on blood pressure.
Insomnia and Mental Health Connection
The findings underscore a broader issue: many Americans are not getting enough sleep. Federal health officials recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night for optimal heart, immune, muscle, and brain function. However, approximately 12% of American adults suffer from insomnia, a chronic sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Feeling older has also been linked to poor mental health, which can lead to early frailty, even in individuals as young as 40. Insomnia and mental health issues often feed into each other, creating a vicious cycle. Previous research shows that people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to have depression and 17 times more likely to have anxiety than those without sleep problems.
Dr. Andrea Goldstein-Piekarski, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine, emphasized the bidirectional relationship between sleep and mood. This connection is particularly concerning given that more than 20% of Americans live with a mental illness, with women disproportionately affected.
Implications for Clinical Practice
The study, which used online surveys to assess participants' age, insomnia, sleep health, mental health, and subjective age, found that the older individuals felt, the worse their self-reported physical health related to poor sleep. The researchers accounted for sex, race, and history of depression and anxiety.
According to Dr. Dzierzewski, these findings challenge how clinicians discuss aging with their patients. Understanding subjective age could inform future approaches to promote healthier sleep and improve quality of life across the lifespan.
Reversing the Feeling of Being Old
Importantly, feeling older does not have to be permanent. The Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine suggests that engaging in activities that make one feel young again, such as exercising, taking a class, or pursuing artistic endeavors, can help.
Dr. Angelina Sutin, an associate professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine, noted that the idea that feeling old is inevitable is entrenched, but finding what rejuvenates you can prove otherwise. The research will be presented later this month at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Baltimore, Maryland.
