Mind & Mood

Too much sleep may harm cognitive performance

Research we're watching

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
  • Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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A woman sleeping, snuggled under a comforter.

Researchers examined sleep duration and cognition in 1,853 adults ages 27 to 85 (average age 50, 57% women) who hadn’t been diagnosed with dementia or suffered a stroke. Participants were categorized into four groups: no depression symptoms and no antidepressant use; depression symptoms and no antidepressant use; antidepressant use and no depression symptoms; and depression symptoms along with antidepressant use.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later covered health and medicine for a wide variety of websites, magazines, and hospitals. Her work has … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

photo of Toni Golen, MD

Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical … See Full Bio
View all posts by Toni Golen, MD
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