Teen Sleep Habits May Predict Heart Health in Adulthood: Research

Teens who maintain consistent, efficient sleep habits may be protecting their future heart health, according to new research published in the journal Sleep and to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting. The study found that adolescents with earlier bedtimes, better sleep efficiency, and more consistent sleep schedules at age 15 had significantly better cardiovascular health by age 22.

Led by Gina Marie Mathew, a senior post-doctoral associate in public health at Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine, the study highlights the long-term health implications of sleep patterns during adolescence.

The research team analyzed longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, focusing on a diverse sample of 307 adolescents, 57% of whom were female. At age 15, participants wore wrist actigraphy devices for a week to objectively track their sleep behaviors. Sleep variables measured included bedtime, wake time, total sleep time, efficiency, and variability across nights.

At age 22, participants underwent cardiovascular assessments based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8—excluding sleep—which includes diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids.