Researchers says the findings emphasize "the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits for overall well-being."
Functional ability—how well a person can meet basic needs, participate in relationships, or make decisions—is one of the true hallmarks of healthy aging, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). But another component, called intrinsic capacity, also matters, says the organization, defining it as “all the mental and physical capacities that a person can draw on and includes their ability to walk, think, see, hear and remember.”
With these parameters in mind, researchers are studying how everyday habits support—or hurt—these abilities as we age. One new study, set to be published in the journal Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics in December 2025, highlights sleep as a key factor. Led by a group of longevity and medical experts from Taiwan, a study found that getting adequate sleep was positively associated with two key contributors of intrinsic capacity and healthy aging: vitality and psychological well-being.
Vitality, according to a 2023 study about intrinsic capacity, is how well your body is able to handle “a balance of physical and mental functioning.” Meanwhile, psychological well-being speaks to how well a person is able to navigate certain life experiences, such as handling daily stressors in life or contributing to a community, says the WHO. These factors matter because the WHO’s “framework for healthy aging highlights the crucial role of [intrinsic capacity] in the life course and emphasizes the need to promote positive health attributes to prevent disability,” says the study.
For the study, the researchers enrolled 810 adults, who were 50 or older, and examined how their sleep habits matched up with intrinsic capacity. The researchers used a detailed sleep questionnaire and then, using an algorithm for assistance, grouped people into four different sleep types: worst sleepers, short and inefficient sleepers, inefficient sleepers, or robust sleepers. Ultimately they found that the worst sleepers were over 2.5 times more likely to have low overall intrinsic capacity than those who slept well—putting them at greater risk of adverse health outcomes, including “falls, institutionalization, functional deterioration, and mortality,” the study authors note.
The authors concluded that the findings emphasize “the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits for overall well-being,” offering a reminder that rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity of healthy aging. If you’re struggling with sleep, it’s important to take it seriously: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 7 hours of sleep a night for adults and suggests creating healthy bedtime routines, limiting screen time, following a healthy diet and exercising, curbing alcohol and caffeine, and managing stress. It can also be important to talk to your doctor for ideas on getting the best rest possible.
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