The American College of Medicine found that children who do not sleep for 9 hours a night have less gray matter

Children who sleep less affect gray matter

According to research by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM, USA), elementary school-age children who sleep less than 9 hours a night have significant differences in certain brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence and health compared to peers who get 9-12 hours of sleep per night. The results have been published in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

These differences correlate with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and impulsive behavior in sleep-deprived people. Inadequate sleep has also been linked to cognitive difficulties, including: Memory, problem solving and decision making.

The researchers examined data collected from more than 8,300 children ages 9 to 10. They examined MRI images, medical records, and surveyed participants and parents. The process is repeated when the child is 11-12 years old.

Children who sleep less than 9 hours a night have less gray matter.

"We found that children who didn't get enough sleep (less than 9 hours a night) had less gray matter. Compared with their peers, the volume of certain brain regions responsible for attention and memory control in these children are also smaller. These differences persist after two years," said study author Dr. Ze Wang, expert in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine at UMSOM.

This is one of the first findings to demonstrate the long-term effects of sleep deprivation on neurocognitive development in children. According to Dr. Wang and colleagues, the study could significantly support current recommendations for sleep in children.

In follow-up assessments, the team found that the participants who got enough sleep tended to gradually sleep less over the course of two years. This is normal as the child enters the teen years. Meanwhile, the group that slept less did not change much in the number of hours of sleep.

How much sleep is enough for children?

Sleep needs will vary with age. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), children should have the following amount of sleep:

AgeNumber of hours of sleep0-3 months old 14-17 hours4 - 11 months old12-15 hoursFrom 1 to 2 years old 11-14 hours From 3 to 5 years old 10-13 hoursFrom 6-13 years old9-11 hours

Scientists also encourage parents to let their children sunbathe every morning to receive natural light during the day. When sunlight enters the eye, a message is sent to the brain to notify the halt in production of the hormone melatonin. This helps your child feel awake during the day and produces melatonin at the necessary time of his or her sleep cycle.

Parents should pay attention to the child's diet and biological clock.

Besides, parents should set the biological clock to help their children by creating good habits before bedtime. Some solutions to help your baby fall asleep easily, such as limiting exposure to blue light, singing or telling stories to your child, and creating a quiet and pleasant bedroom atmosphere.

In particular, parents should also pay attention to the food portion of the day. Adults make sure children have a full dinner at a reasonable time. Many studies show that if children feel too hungry or too full before bed, they will be more alert or uncomfortable.