Study followed more than 3,000 people over 60 over 8 years and found that the same decline is not observed in women
Asking men how many hours they sleep per night can be a simple, inexpensive and effective strategy for predicting and preventing loss of mobility. A study that followed more than 3,000 people over the age of 60 found that a prolonged sleep pattern – above 9 hours a night – resulted in slower steps over 8 years, but only in males. Slow gait in elderly people is an important indicator of mobility and is associated with loss of independence and a greater risk of falls, hospitalization, institutionalization and death.
The investigation was conducted by researchers from UFSCar (Federal University of São Carlos) and University College London (United Kingdom). The analysis involved data from 1,582 men and 1,626 women aged 60 or over who are part of the (English Longitudinal Study on Aging). Only individuals who did not have any pre-existing problems related to gait speed were included and followed for 8 years.
According to the results published in Journal of the American Medical Directors Associationmen over 60 years old who slept more than 9 hours a night had a greater reduction in walking speed during the analyzed period – losing up to ¼ of their initial speed. Symptoms of insomnia and short nights of sleep had no impact on male mobility. Furthermore, no association between sleep pattern and mobility was observed among women.
Based on data from the study, carried out with support from Fapesp, the researchers argue that prolonged sleep (more than 9 hours per night) should be considered a risk marker for slowness in men over 60 years of age.
“Although they sleep longer hours, these people tend to have a more fragmented sleep with fewer deep phases. This type of sleep with a high number of hours, but of low quality, with many interruptions, compromises the release of testosterone, a hormone essential for maintaining muscle mass, especially in men, thus accelerating the loss of walking speed”explained Tiago da Silva Alexandre, professor at the Department of Gerontology at UFSCar and author of the study.
“Inflammaging”
In addition to the hormonal issue, this type of long and interrupted sleep is associated with the intensification of a process of chronic, low-grade inflammation, characteristic of old age and known as inflammaging. This condition promotes the degradation of musculoskeletal tissue cells, the inhibition of protein synthesis and the reduction of muscle strength and mass.
“It is often said that having muscle means being healthy and, in old age, this is no different. This happens because the immune system and the endocrine system are mediated by the muscular system”commented Alexandre.
In the study, women who slept more than 9 hours a night did not have their walking speed affected. The researchers explain that this was due to the hormonal profile in females. “In women, other hormones, such as IGF-1 and GH, play a more relevant role in muscle anabolism than testosterone. Therefore, the impact was not significant”said Patrícia Silva Tofani, professor at UFS (Federal University of Sergipe) and co-author of the article.
As the authors point out, sleep patterns are expected to change with aging. For elderly people, the ideal is to sleep 6 to 9 hours a night, while for younger adults the recommended average is 7 to 8 hours.
“For the elderly, who physiologically tend to sleep less and take more daytime naps, sleeping more than 9 hours at night is an unusual pattern, which may suggest clinical vulnerability. Therefore, the study reinforces the need to consider prolonged sleep as a specific clinical marker of risk for elderly men”highlighted Alexandre.
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This text was originally published by , on June 22, 2026. The content is free for republication, citing the source, and was adapted to the standard of Poder360.
