You probably already know that getting enough good-quality sleep is important for health. It’s been linked to an additional four years of life and could even lower your dementia risk.
But what exactly about sleep, and which part of the process in particular, confers these benefits?
A new study published in PLOS One may have some answers. After looking at sleep and health data from 95,559 people, researchers found a link between REM sleep and a lower likelihood of developing dozens of health conditions.
Meanwhile, other stages, like deep sleep, seemed to matter too – just to a lesser extent. Sleep duration appeared to affect risk, as well.
What is REM sleep?
REM, or rapid eye m...
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