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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Noninvasive, High-throughput Determination of Sleep Duration in Rodents
Published on: April 18, 2018
National Sleep Foundation's updated sleep duration recommendations: final report.
Max Hirshkowitz1, Kaitlyn Whiton2, Steven M Albert3
1Division of Public Mental Health and Population Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
New sleep duration guidelines offer science-based recommendations for all ages. These expert-backed ranges ensure optimal sleep for newborns through older adults, promoting better health.
Area of Science:
- Sleep science and chronobiology.
- Public health and preventive medicine.
- Pediatric and geriatric medicine.
Background:
- Establishing optimal sleep duration is crucial for health and well-being across the lifespan.
- Previous sleep duration recommendations lacked comprehensive, consensus-based scientific backing.
- Variations in sleep needs necessitate age-specific guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop scientifically sound and practical daily sleep duration recommendations for nine distinct age groups.
- To provide evidence-based guidance for individuals, healthcare providers, and public health organizations.
Main Methods:
- Convening a multidisciplinary expert panel representing leading sleep organizations.
- Systematic evaluation of the latest scientific evidence on sleep duration.
- Utilizing the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method for consensus and voting.
Main Results:
- Established recommended sleep duration ranges for newborns (14-17 hours) to older adults (7-8 hours).
- Categorized sleep durations as 'recommended,' 'may be appropriate,' or 'not recommended' for each age group.
- Provided detailed rationale and discussion supporting each recommendation.
Conclusions:
- Achieved consensus on sleep duration recommendations for specific age groupings.
- The multidisciplinary expert panel approach ensures robust credibility of the findings.
- Acknowledged limitations and caveats to guide the appropriate application of recommendations.
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