Updated at : 30-12-25 11:59:02

What Happens To Your Mind When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep

Do you experience increased stress, anxiety, and depression? Do you feel fatigued all day at your school, college, or office? Even if you have poor skin health and mood swing issues, it might be possible that you are not getting adequate sleep.

Different studies provide evidence that most of us are getting less sleep per day than recommended (7 to 8 hours per night).

Ultimately, we are paying the price. So the question that automatically arises here is the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain. Let’s dive in and research more about it.

How Sleep Supports Your Brain Functioning

You may be amazed to know that sleep goes way beyond rest. You can say it is a critical maintenance and reset phase of the brain. Hence, the consequences of consistent lack of sleep can be harmful to the body.

When discussing the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain, it is beneficial to understand how sleep supports brain function.

Your brain consolidates memories. Thereafter, it transfers the accumulated memories from short-term storage to long-term networks.
Cerebrospinal fluid flows freely. It helps in clearing waste products like toxins and beta-amyloid. This is how the entire process works in your body.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Brain

Different studies have underscored the importance of sleep for the human body and, more importantly, the brain. Lack of sleep has a direct relationship with mental health issues. Let’s discuss some of them here.

Effects Of Lack Of Sleep: Impaired Memory

According to experts, sleep embeds the experiences (we go through during the day) into short-term memory. Sleep plays a major role in consolidating new information into memory.

If you are feeling sleepy due to lack of sleep, you may end up misplacing things. Memory loss may result in a 40% drop in cognitive capability.

Lack Of Sleep Reduces Focus

If you have been experiencing a lack of sleep, it will immediately reduce your focus. This is why it is often observed that students who sleep poorly yet feel tired and sleepy find it difficult to concentrate.

There are medical treatments that can help increase sleep duration. Even in Ayurveda, sleep has been given paramount importance. Yogic asanas and postures help immensely with sleep-related issues.

Lack Of Sleep Causes Anxiety

Anxiety is a major problem in India, accounting for nearly 32.28% of mental health cases.

Different factors combine to increase cases of anxiety and depression across age groups. However, systematic reviews highlight the growing risk among adolescents.

Sleeplessness Accelerates Cognitive Ageing

According to studies, people with chronic sleep deprivation often face problems like insomnia, defined as persistent difficulty sleeping every night.

Research finds a 40% higher risk of brain ageing and dementia in such individuals. Brain ageing may accelerate by around 3.5 years, especially in older adults.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Lack of sufficient sleep over the lifespan multiplies the risk of dementia or cognitive impairment. Studies show that adults who regularly sleep six hours or less may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Sleep Deprivation Impacts Children

Lack of sleep affects children as well. Various studies show that chronic sleepiness can harm children, leading to impaired learning, poor concentration, behavioural issues, and academic difficulties.

So, How Much Sleep Do You Need?

Now, the core question that arises is: “How much sleep do we need?” Different researches say that 30% of American people sleep for less than seven hours every night.

According to doctors:

Adults aged 65+ need 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
Adults between 26 and 64 years need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep.
Adults between 18 and 25 years need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep.

However, factors like genetics and environment also determine individual sleep needs. The median professional advice is that we need to sleep for at least 7 hours each night.