Experts tell us that every hour of sleep before midnight is equivalent to sleeping double that time after midnight! A bit like the old adage, “early to bed, early to rise makes a young man
healthy, wealthy and wise”. Question is, can we apply this same logic to older persons. The sleep experts say yes. The extra energy that your body has before midnight can explain this. You see, the repair and detoxification that makes us feel revitalized after a good night’s rest is actually energy driven. Your body needs energy to sweep away the clutter and rejuvenate your organs – it’s a LOT of work!

Another study found short sleep can negatively impact some aspects of brain function to a similar degree as alcohol intoxication. Good sleep, on the other hand, has been shown to improve problem solving skills and enhance memory performance of both children and adults.

There is also evidence that sleep quality and duration can have a major effect on risk factors of chronic diseases including heart disease. A review of 15 studies found that short sleepers are at far greater risk of heart disease or stroke than those who sleep 7 to 8 hours per night.