[dsolo777]

> Interestingly, our study did not identify a significant relationship between sleep quality—that is, sleeplessness/insomnia and cognitive performance— contrary to some previous findings

> The regression highlighted a positive association between normal sleep duration (7–9 hours) and cognitive scores... while extended sleep duration negatively impacted scores across both cohorts

> intermediate and evening types, were linked to superior cognitive function

propaganda by big insomnia ;)

[kranner]

More like propaganda by Big Alcohol, given the following

> Individuals who abstained from alcohol showed lower cognitive scores than those who consumed alcohol, conflicting with previous research that has connected moderate drinking with cognitive impairment. Weekly and monthly alcohol consumption, as opposed to daily drinking, was found to somewhat correlate with lower cognitive scores.

[bratbag]

Hypothesis: The better you understand the world, the more likely you are to need an occasional drink.

[danielheath]

Those who abstain entirely are disproportionately likely to be former alcoholics - which explains eg the apparent protective effect of moderate drinking

[bitexploder]

Every study I have ever read emphasized importance of sleep. Many show grey matter reduction long term the less you sleep. Sleep studies literally use a little alcohol to disrupt sleep. All the research out there indicates alcohol also directly shrinks your grey matter. These findings are hard to believe for sure.

[rawgabbit]

The study appears to say alcohol consumption has protective effect on cognition. Those who drank had less cognitive decline compared to those who abstained completely. If this is correct, this directly contradicts the other studies that says alcohol has zero benefits?

[mnk47]

So the Ballmer Peak is real!

https://xkcd.com/323/

[luke-stanley]

Some might just be avoiding falling asleep or being even less capable.

[treetalker]

This is a situation of correlation ≠ causation, because — as all Rick & Morty fans know — some geniuses are drinking copiously just to slow down their turbo-charged intellects. :-)

[InDubioProRubio]

My pet theory is that extended sleep correlates with hide-away, hunger and depression modes - which signal to our body that energy must be conserved. And cognition without the ability to act is the definition of energy waste.

[jamesmotherway]

Long sleep duration often presents with poor sleep quality, which negatively impacts cognition.

"Long total sleep time may suggest prior sleep deprivation, medical conditions, or effects of medications."[1]

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4246141/

[The_Colonel]

I've been taking creatine for a while and it has interesting effects. On one hand, it seems making my sleep worse, i.e. sleeping less and kind of lightly? On the other hand, it helps me with cognitive performance, I get way less mentally exhausted during the day than I used to.

[lynx23]

> normal sleep duration (7–9 hours)

Show me one employed person with a life that manages to get 8 hours sleep on average. Most commuters would have to go to bed at 2100 to get a breakfast and enough time to get to work. I only get 8 hours when I know I am sleep deprived and go to bed at 2100. However, this is not "normal", and I bet it isn't normal for most. So why do we call it normal, then?

[bregma]

Most days I'm in bed (and asleep withing 5 minutes) at 22:00 and awake at 05:30. I'm over 60, 7.5 hours sleep is just right for me. I have a one-hour commute each way and usually leave home at 06:45 and arrive back around 18:00.

It doesn't matter what time I go to bed, my eyes pop open at 05:30 and I have to get up (a) to micturate (did I mention I'm over 60?) and (2) feed the cats. The latter have trained me using medieval methods. When I was younger I would sleep as late as I could: my record was sleeping in until 16:00, and boys oh boys did that cause me to feel wretched.

[XCSme]

In the EU it's quite normal for the average person to get the 8 hours of sleep. Of course, it depends on the work sector you are in, but for most jobs you don't have to wake up at 6 AM. Also, most people live close to their work, within 30 minutes of biking/driving/public transport.

[coldpie]

I go to sleep at 9:30 and wake up at 5:30 every day. Sometimes I go crazy and stay up till 10, but that's rare. My bus leaves at 7 AM (40 minute commute), so that's plenty of time for coffee & breakfast & a shower before I have to head out the door. I get home from work at about 4:30 PM, plenty of time to cook dinner or do home stuff or go see friends or whatever before going to bed at 9.

[beowulfey]

My breakfast is a cup of coffee and toast usually but since I live a 25 min bike ride from my work (in New England USA) I can usually leave around 800, which means I can sleep at 2300 for 8 hours easily.

Now, does my body do that?... no, usually it wakes me up after 6-7, but whatever.

[bitexploder]

I ran a consulting business for a long time. Sleeping that much is no problem if you prioritize it. Kids, wife, etc. You just have to organize your life around your priorities. It does mean little time for extraneous entertainment during the week, but that’s ok.

[hansc]

I do sleep 8+ hours each night (Netherlands): Up at 7.30, leave at 8.15, 30m commute. Leave work at 5.15, get to sleep around 10.45.

[buttscicles]

Interestingly everybody replying to this is saying they spend ~8 hours in bed, which most certainly means they aren't getting 8 hours of sleep :)

[hug]

I work a full time tech job, I am out with friends or on a “date night” with my partner three or four times a week every week, and I have a few hobbies like music production and combat robotics.

I get at least 8 hours every night. My “must be home and in bed” time on a weeknight is by 12:30AM, and I sleep in until 8:45AM. I am normally woken by my alarm.

Weekends I simply set an alarm for 9 hours after I get in bed, which sometimes means sleeping until 2PM.

I don’t eat breakfast, and I basically never commute in the morning, but if I do, my office is about 15 minutes away.

[bityard]

"Normal" in the context of the body's actual sleep needs, not "normal" in the sense that everyone has the time or life management skills to achieve those needs.

("Normal" also depends on age: babies sleep a lot more than 8 hours a day, teenagers also typically need more sleep than they actually get.)

[louvki]

idk it's normal for me but then again i live in Denmark and i dont have any children

[npras1]

agree.

This "8 hours of sleep" is just a made up number.

Most adults (with responsibilities) don't sleep for 8 hours daily. They sleep far less.

And sleeping less than that is enough to live a very healthy life. If you feel your body/mind didn't rest well because you didn't get your 8 hour sleep, it's likely because you've been exposed to, and came to believe all these articles saying you do need 8 hrs min sleep. It's simply not the case. You can function very well on 6.5/7 hrs of sleep. I'm nearing 40 and I do.

2 worthy links:

https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/ - debunks the popular "why we sleep" book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqlzQMB1fN8 - this guy is a S&C coach who's 30 and strong. He too believes sleep is overstated.