Getting to bed at a relatively early hour is typically regarded as essential for anyone who strives to perform at their best the following day.
People who are naturally inclined to be enthusiastic and alert early in the morning are not the only ones who can wake up feeling refreshed.
Research demonstrates that individuals who stay engaged and alert later in the evening tend to outperform their peers in cognitive assessments.
The researcher found that numerous studies have explored the connection between sleep and mental abilities, particularly the duration of sleep – however, there is limited understanding about the patterns of sleep, or chronotypes, and cognitive functions.
They analyzed data from thousands of people participating in the UK Biobank study to understand the complex relationships between sleep duration, quality, and chronotype, which were classified into ‘morningness’, ‘eveningness’, or ‘intermediate’ types.
Individuals participating in the study underwent evaluations designed to assess their cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, response speed, and memory capacity.
Researchers examined data on nearly 27,000 individuals, comparing their performance on these tests with their reported hours of sleep, sleep pattern, and sleep quality.
Individuals who obtained between seven and nine hours of rest each night appeared to perform most effectively on the examinations, reported the study, which has been made public in the journal of BMJ Public Health.
Researchers also discovered that individuals who prefer to stay up late at night, as well as those categorized as ‘intermediate risers’, exhibit better cognitive abilities.
According to the researchers, being a woman, growing older, and receiving diagnoses of angina, high blood pressure, and diabetes appear to ‘worsen cognitive performance’.
According to Dr. Raha West, lead author of the research and a member of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, he noted: ‘Our study discovered that adults who exhibit more natural activity in the evening – specifically those characterized by ‘eveningness’ – generally performed better on cognitive assessments than those who tend to be “morning people”.
‘These inner clocks can directly affect our mental performance rather than simply being a matter of personal taste.’
She added: “While it is crucial to be aware of and work with your natural sleep patterns, it’s equally important to ensure you get just the right amount of sleep, neither too much nor too little.”
‘This is vital for maintaining your brain’s health and optimal functioning.’
Lead co-author Professor Daqing Ma, also from Imperial’s Surgery and Cancer department, noted: ‘We discovered that sleep duration has a direct impact on brain function, and we feel that proactively managing sleep patterns is key to enhancing, and protecting, how our brains function.
We would ideally like to see policy measures to help improve sleep patterns in the general public.
However, independent authorities have cautioned the findings.
Professor Roi Cohen Kadosh, a prominent expert in cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Surrey stated that while the research itself was “solid,” its representation was “inaccurate.”
“This study can’t tell us anything about how sleep affects thinking and alertness, and a title like ‘making you sharper’ is misleading. It can still provide information on the relationship between sleep and thinking, but it can’t tell us anything about the underlying cause and effect,” he said.
I worry that the everyday person may not comprehend this and will alter their sleep routine accordingly.
‘I believe that implementing a policy based on this research is too hasty and that a new study with a distinct design is necessary to provide a strong enough justification.’
Dr. Jessica Chelekis, a sleep expert from Brunel University London, also questioned the phrasing used in the study, stating it “exaggerates the takeaway”.
The study design is sound, but there are significant drawbacks to consider.
It is crucial to note that the authors fail to specify the time of day when the participants underwent the cognitive tests, which could have significant implications for the accuracy of the results.
Conversely, the authors also indicate that the educational backgrounds of the participants were not taken into consideration.
She asserted: “In my expert opinion, the primary conclusion should be that the cultural notion that early risers are more productive than ‘night owls’ is not supported by scientific evidence.”
Everyone should aim to get a good night’s sleep. However, it’s also important to be aware of our natural energy levels throughout the day so that we can work during the times when we’re at our most productive.
People who stay up late should not be judged for not following the common practice of going to bed early.
Notable individuals who stay up late into the night include former US President Barack Obama, who has been known to go to bed well after midnight, typically arising at 7:00 am.
British political giant and former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was also a late-night person, going to bed at 4am and rising so late that he even hosted War Cabinet meetings in his bathroom.
‘The King’ Elvis Presley had a habit of sleeping late into the night, often only eating breakfast at 4 pm.
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On the other end of the spectrum, well-known ‘larks’, those who go to bed early and wake up early, include Apple’s Tim Cook, Michelle Obama, and Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
In reality, becoming an early riser appears to be typical among business founders and top executives, with polls indicating that the majority (37 percent) wakes up at 6am.
Few leaders, whether in politics or business, get by with minimal sleep is a common phenomenon.
The former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, for instance, reportedly used to manage with around four hours of sleep.
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Several notable individuals, including Elon Musk, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Martha Stewart, reportedly sleep for just between three to six hours each night.
Jennifer Aniston, of the popular TV show “Friends,” has varying sleep patterns, often getting up as early as 4:30am if she’s working or sleeping in until 8 or 9am when she’s not.
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