{
  "id": 1818155,
  "title": "Healthy sleep patterns in midlife linked to longer working life expectancy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/healthy-sleep-patterns-in-midlife-linked-to-longer-working-life",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T22:30:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-healthy-patterns-midlife-linked-longer.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study suggests that maintaining healthy sleep patterns during midlife can lead to a longer working life expectancy. The research, published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, analyzed data from two large surveys of working-age individuals in Finland. Very disturbed sleep, defined as issues falling or staying asleep, waking up too early, or experiencing nonrestorative sleep, was linked to a reduction in workforce participation of around 9 months. Similarly, longer sleep durations of 9 or more hours per night were associated with a decrease in working life expectancy. The study found that people with no sleep disturbances had a working life expectancy of 13 years and 5 months, while those with moderate sleep disturbances saw a reduction to 13 years, and those with severe sleep disturbances had a working life expectancy of 12 years and 10 months. Short and mid-range sleep lengths were both associated with a working life expectancy of 13 years and 2 months, while long nightly sleep was linked to a working life expectancy of 12 years and 5 months. The researchers emphasize the importance of addressing sleep health and managing disturbances, particularly among individuals with lower socioeconomic status, to potentially extend their working careers.",
  "summary": "Healthy sleep patterns in midlife are linked to longer working life expectancy, findings from a large study of working-age men and women suggest. The study was published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}