New research shows sleep is more complex than just “good” or “bad.” A major study identified five distinct sleep types. These types connect a person’s sleep patterns directly to their mental health and brain function. Understanding your specific sleep profile may lead to better, more personalized treatment.
The research analyzed over 700 healthy young adults. Scientists combined data from brain scans, sleep journals, and psychological tests. The findings show that different sleep types correlate with unique brain connectivity patterns.
The Five Sleep Profiles:
- Poor Sleep & Distress: This group struggles to fall or stay asleep. They show the highest rates of anxiety and depression.
- Resilient Sleep: These people report significant emotional distress, like stress or low mood. Yet, their sleep quality remains strong. They appear to have natural “sleep resilience.”
- Sleep Aid Dependence: Individuals here often use medications or aids to sleep. They show slight drops in memory and emotional awareness. This suggests a cognitive cost to relying on sleep aids.
- Short Sleep Duration: This group regularly gets less than seven hours of sleep. Even if they feel fine, testing showed they have poorer attention and memory.
- Fragmented Sleep: People in this category wake up frequently during the night. They suffer from anxiety and poorer working memory. Sleep apnea or other disruptions often cause this pattern.
The study strongly reinforces that sleep affects mental and cognitive health. Experts now recommend that sleep interventions should be highly customized.
