Sound sleep 'the secret' to women's longevity

WOMEN may live longer than men because they are better sleepers, scientists have claimed.

Researchers in the US found that women suffer less from sleep loss than men.

They appear to be more resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation, and sleep more soundly.

The findings show that missing sleep can affect hormone levels and generate harmful chemicals in the body.

Chief scientist Dr Alexandros Vgontzas, from Pennsylvania State University, believes women’s sleeping habits may have evolved to help them cope with crying babies and disturbed nights.

He thought it could help explain why women live, on average, several years longer than men.

“Women are sleeping better, so can this be one of the reasons they are living longer?” he said.

Dr Vgontzas and researchers at the US National Institute of Health studied the effects of missing two hours’ sleep per night on 25 men and women aged in their 20s.

After a week, the volunteers had become drowsier and did not perform as well in vigilance tests.

Both sexes showed increased levels of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines but only men demonstrated raised levels of a chemical called tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, which may contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes.

“Greater increases in TNF-alpha levels put men at greater health risks from lack of sleep,” said Dr Vgontzas.

The study, published in the journal Chemistry and Industry, showed that women had 70 minutes of deep sleep per night compared with 40 minutes for men.

Dr Vgontzas said it was possible that the life expectancy seven-year gap could be closed if men were able to sleep more like women.