Are you feeling old? You are most likely not getting enough sleep, Stockholm University researchers say – News – CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance [Skip to content](#main) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-03-DvaxLIQk.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-02-Dh7f4uYd.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-01-CEiLnzkH.svg) [ ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg)](https://civis.eu/en) - [ Discover ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance) - [ What is CIVIS? ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Our work ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Mission, Vision & Values ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/mission-vision-values) - [ Governance & Management ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Who's Who ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) [Open Labs & Civic engagement ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Learn ](https://civis.eu/en/learn) - [ Blended Intensive Programmes ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Flexible Learning ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/build-your-learning-path-flexible-offer) - [ Master’s Programmes ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Staff weeks & Job Shadowing ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Study abroad ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) [Discover the projects led by our students in 2025-2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026) [CIVIS Museum University Forum ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/CIVIS-Museum-University-Forum) - [ Teach ](https://civis.eu/en/teach) - [ Calls for Projects ](https://civis.eu/en/teach/civis-calls) - [ Innovate your Teaching ](https://civis.eu/en/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Resources for Educators ](https://civis.eu/en/teach/resources-for-educators) [CIVIS BIPs: strong impact and high satisfaction, new report finds ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/civis-bips-strong-impact-and-high-satisfaction-new-report-finds) [When art speaks louder than headlines: CIVIS Open Lab participants reclaim the meaning of home ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/when-art-speaks-louder-than-headlines-civis-open-lab-reclaims-the-meaning-of-home) - [ Research ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research) - [ Research Collaboration ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research/research-collaboration) - [ Careers, Networks & Mobilities ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Resources for Researchers ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research/resources-for-researchers) [I am an academic/ researcher ](https://civis.eu/en/i-am-an-academic-researcher) [Facing Common Challenges, Shaping Joint Solutions for Africa and Europe ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/facing-common-challenges-shaping-joint-solutions-for-africa-and-europe) - [ Connect ](https://civis.eu/en/connect) - [ Newsletters ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/newsletters) - [ CIVIS Days ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/civis-days) - [ Civil Society ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Contact us ](https://civis.eu/en/contact) - [ Press Corner & Branding ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [Who’s Who ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) [Fake It Till You News It: Challenges and Solutions in Modern Media Student Innovation Forum ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026/civis-creathon-contest) [ Our stories ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom) en - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ el ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) Menu - [Discover](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-29) - [ What is CIVIS? ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Our work ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Mission, Vision & Values ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/mission-vision-values) - [ Governance & Management ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Who's Who ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) - [Learn](https://civis.eu/en/learn) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-30) - [ Blended Intensive Programmes ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Flexible Learning ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/build-your-learning-path-flexible-offer) - [ Master’s Programmes ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Staff weeks & Job Shadowing ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Study abroad ](https://civis.eu/en/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) - [Teach](https://civis.eu/en/teach) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-31) - [ Calls for Projects ](https://civis.eu/en/teach/civis-calls) - [ Innovate your Teaching ](https://civis.eu/en/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Resources for Educators ](https://civis.eu/en/teach/resources-for-educators) - [Research](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-32) - [ Research Collaboration ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research/research-collaboration) - [ Careers, Networks & Mobilities ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Resources for Researchers ](https://civis.eu/en/providing-the-tools-for-innovative-research/resources-for-researchers) - [Connect](https://civis.eu/en/connect) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-33) - [ Newsletters ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/newsletters) - [ CIVIS Days ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/civis-days) - [ Civil Society ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Contact us ](https://civis.eu/en/contact) - [ Press Corner & Branding ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [ Our stories ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom) en - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ el ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) - [ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/are-you-feeling-old-you-are-most-likely-not-getting-enough-sleep-stockholm-university-researchers-say) 1. [The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom) 2. Are you feeling old? You are most likely not getting enough sleep, Stockholm University researchers say Are you feeling old? You are most likely not getting enough sleep, Stockholm University researchers say ========================================================================================================= CIVIS Highlights 19 April 2024 Ten years older! This is how being sleepy can make you feel. A [study](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.0171) published in the scientific journal *Proceedings of the Royal Society B* and conducted by the researchers at Stockholm University shows how sleep affects how old you feel. So if you ever find yourself longing for the energy and vitality of your younger years, perhaps you should go to bed earlier in the evening. ![](/storage/files/image_1.jpg) *Photo: Anna Koldunova, Mostphotos\_SU* Feeling young is not just a matter of perception, but it's actually related to objective health outcomes. Previous studies have shown that feeling younger than one’s actual age is associated with longer, healthier lives. There is even support for subjective age to predict actual brain age, with those feeling younger having younger brains. > *Given that sleep is essential for brain function and overall well-being, we decided to test whether sleep holds any secrets to presereg a youthful sense of age*,” says Leonie Balter, researcher at the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University. ### The first study: how old do you feel? The researchers conducted 2 separate studies to test their theory. During the first one, 429 individuals aged 18 to 70 were asked how old they felt, how many days in the past month they had not gotten enough sleep, and how sleepy they were. It turned out that for each night with insufficient sleep in the past month, participants felt on average 0.23 years older. ### The second study: sleep deprivation Arter the first study, the researchers tested whether it was indeed the lack of sleep causing participants to feel older. Therefore, they conducted an experimental sleep restriction study involving 186 participants aged 18 to 46. Participants restricted their sleep for two nights – only four hours in bed each night – and another time slept sufficiently for two nights, with nine hours in bed each night. ### Conclusion: go to bed! After the sleep restriction, participants felt on average 4.4 years older compared to when having enjoyed sufficient sleep. The effects of sleep on subjective age appeared to be related to how sleepy they felt. Feeling extremely alert was related to feeling 4 years younger than one’s actual age, while extreme sleepiness was related to feeling 6 years older than one’s actual age. > *This means that going from feeling alert to sleepy added a striking 10 years to how old one felt. Therefore safeguarding our sleep is crucial for maintaining a youthful feeling. This, in turn, may promote a more active lifestyle and encourage behaviours that promote health, as both feeling young and alert are important for our motivation to be active*,” concludes Leonie Balter. **If you need to know more, go check the [original story, in Swedish](https://www.su.se/psykologiska-institutionen/nyheter/s%C3%B6mnen-p%C3%A5verkar-hur-gammal-du-k%C3%A4nner-dig-1.725440).** Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/hannahpelikan-2024-liu-7637-800x600.jpg?token=e69d69aad40de681ca5eedde6851d655)Self-driving cars still have timing issues, Swedish researchers find CIVIS Highlights 9 March 2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/self-driving-cars-still-have-timing-issues-swedish-researchers-find) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/dictionaries-800x600.jpg?token=028d7ffc1ba206cdd38fa50e28ac0083)The 18th‑century dictionary craze vs today’s AI anxiety CIVIS Highlights 11 February 2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/the-18th-century-dictionary-craze-vs-today-s-ai-anxiety) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/packing-for-fieldtrip-2-800x600.jpg?token=fbeffdd50a352350172f1cfbeddffc33)Antarctic expedition searches for clues to future sea-level rise CIVIS Highlights 8 January 2026 ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/antarctic-expedition-searches-for-clues-to-future-sea-level-rise) [Discover all our stories](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom) [ ULB invites the CIVIS community to follow live the hatching and birth of their Peregrine Falcons ](< https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/ulb-invites-the-civis-community-to-follow-live-the-hatching-and-birth-of-their-peregrine-falcons >) [ Our journey to #DiscoverCIVIS continues as our student ambassadors explore diversity in our campuses ](< https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/our-journey-to-discovercivis-continues-as-our-ambassadors-explore-diversity-in-our-campuses >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither can be held responsible for them. ### People - [ Students ](https://civis.eu/en/i-am-a-student) - [ Academics & researchers ](https://civis.eu/en/i-am-an-academic-researcher) - [ Administrators ](https://civis.eu/en/i-am-an-administrator) - [ Civil society ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Press corner & Branding ](https://civis.eu/en/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) ### Useful links - [ Resources ](https://civis.eu/en/resources) - [ CIVIS Agora ](https://civis.eu/en/civis-agora-the-operational-hub-of-the-civis-digital-campus) - [ European Universities initiative ](https://civis.eu/en/european-universities-initiative) - [ Past Events ](https://civis.eu/en/past-events) - [ Contact ](https://civis.eu/en/contact) [Newsletters](https://civis.eu/en/connect/newsletters) ### Social networks - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/instagram.svg) Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/civis.eu/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/linkedin.svg) LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/civis-eu) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/facebook.svg) Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/CIVISEuropeanUniversity/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/youtube.svg) YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCm0FfreX81BuNH-znlRGQ) © 2026 – CIVIS – All rights reserved - [ Cookie Policy ](https://civis.eu/en/cookie-policy) - [ Privacy policy ](https://civis.eu/en/privacy-policy) Website by [Typi Design](https://typi.be) • Design by [Atelier Milky](https://ateliermilky.com) [ ](#top) Search