Is your teen getting enough sleep?

Here’s what the science says

- BY ZAINAB HUSAIN Features Writer

For many teenagers, balancing extracurricular activities, maintaining good grades, managing college applications, and squeezing in a social life can feel like a juggling act. Add a video game session or a TV show to the mix, and sleep often takes a back seat. But is it time for teens to reassess their priorities? Sleep may just be the secret ingredient that unlocks improved health, cognitive skills, and mental health.

While many parents enforce bedtimes, teenagers often find ways to get around them. However, a growing body of research underscores the importance of quality sleep in fostering cognitive and mental well-being. A recent study, published in Cell Reports in April, provides new insight into the crucial role of sleep for adolescents.

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