A new study connects sleep with improved cognitive function in adolescents

This study, conducted by researchers from Fu-dan University in Shanghai and the University of Cambridge, provides further evidence that sleep is essential for cognitive performance.

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The research monitored the sleep patterns of over 3,000 teens and concluded that those who slept longer and went to bed earlier had improved brain function and performed better on cognitive tests.

The significance of this study lies not only in reinforcing the common wisdom held by parents worldwide that early bedtimes lead to better school performance — but also in its focus on adolescent sleep. Much of the existing research has focused on adult sleep patterns, making this study particularly noteworthy.

Sleep tracking gadgets used

The research drew on data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term investigation into brain development and child health in the United States. Previous studies often relied on self-reported sleep data, which can be unreliable. To ensure accuracy, the researchers used wearable fitness trackers, such as Fitbits, to gather objective sleep data from more than 3,200 participants aged 11 to 12. The youngsters also underwent brain scans and cognitive assessments.

To validate their findings, the researchers cross-checked the results with two additional groups of 13to 14-year-olds, totalling around 1,190 participants.

The team identified three distinct sleep pattern groups: Group one (39 per cent of participants) slept an average of 7 hours and 10 minutes. They tended to go to bed the latest and woke up the earliest. Group two (24 per cent) had a slightly longer average sleep duration of 7 hours and 21 minutes, with average sleep timing. Lastly, group three (37 per cent) clocked the longest average sleep — 7 hours and 25 minutes and went to bed the earliest. They also recorded the lowest sleeping heart rates.