After several sleepless nights, many people hope to catch up on sleep over the weekend to restore energy. However, a U.S. study indicates that this approach may prove futile.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that chronic sleep deprivation—such as consistently sleeping less than four hours per night—causes cumulative harm to the body over time.In this regard, the consequences of insufficient sleep are comparable to those of no sleep at all. Even a few days of sleep deprivation can impair cognitive function. This damage cannot be compensated for by a single night of rest.
Researchers studied the effects of sleep deprivation on mice, recording their slow-wave brain activity during both sleep and wakefulness. Slow-wave activity indicates when sleep is needed; the longer the brain remains awake, the more pronounced this activity becomes.The findings revealed that even when mice attempted to catch up on sleep, the damage caused by intense slow-wave activity progressively worsened. Whether occurring during sleep or wakefulness, such intense brain activity signals the need for rest.
Lead researcher Joala-Sarali stated, "Rather than going to bed on schedule or when tired, people often prefer watching TV or engaging in lively social activities.They hope to catch up on weekends, but that's wishful thinking. After five consecutive nights of less than four hours of sleep, people develop insomnia tendencies and cognitive impairments. These damages can't be reversed by sleeping in the next day or getting ten hours straight."
Sarali explained that insomnia also elevates insulin resistance in the body, leading to diabetes.