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Forget deep sleep — REM sleep is key to longevity and this is the sleep tracking metric to pay attention to, experts say

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Forget deep sleep — REM sleep is key to longevity and this is the sleep tracking metric to pay attention to, experts say

When you open your sleep tracker tomorrow morning, skip the sleep score and turn your attention to another number. A recent study has found time spent in REM sleep is a vital metric for understanding your longevity and illness risk — and most sleep trackers measure it.

A 2026 survey published in PLOS Medicine analyzed data from over 95,000 people wearing a sleep trackers. The researchers linked increased amounts of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep with a lower risk of 83 conditions, including heart failure and dementia.

You might overlook REM in favor of juicier metrics like deep sleep and 3 a.m. wake ups, but this sleep stage is essential for your wellbeing. We asked sleep experts Dr. Hana Patel and Dr. Hanul Bhandari, what we need to know about REM sleep, including how to get more of it.

“REM sleep, (Rapid Eye Movement), is the fourth and final stage of sleep," explains Dr. Patel, NHS GP and resident sleep expert for Time4Sleep. "While this stage tends to be best known for vivid dreaming, it’s also essential for brain development, memory, and emotional regulation."

"REM sleep is characterized by abundant rapid eye movements, high-frequency EEG signals similar to those during alert waking periods, and other polysomnographic indicators," explains Dr. Bhandari, MD.

) But REM sleep often gets cut short because of when it occurs in your sleep cycle .



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