Midlife movement and sleep patterns may predict lifespan: study
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Daily patterns of movement and sleep in midlife may help predict lifespan, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford University published in Science.
The research tracked 81 African turquoise killifish from early adulthood to death using automated camera systems. These short-lived fish, which live for four to eight months, share aspects of brain complexity with humans, making them useful for ageing studies.
The study, led by Claire Bedbrook and Ravi Nath, found that even genetically similar fish raised in identical conditions aged differently. Variations in behaviour, such as swimming activity and sleep patterns, emerged early and were strong indicators of how long the fish would live.
By midlife, typically around 70 to 100 days, longer-lived fish were more active during the day, swam faster, and rested primarily at night. In contrast, shorter-lived fish showed sluggish movement and fragmented sleep, often resting during the day.
Using machine learning models, researchers were able to predict lifespan based on just a few days of midlife behavioural data. The findings suggest that behaviour can act as a comprehensive indicator of overall health, reflecting processes across the brain and body.
Senior author Anne Brunet said behaviour offers a continuous and non-invasive way to assess ageing, unlike molecular markers that capture only specific biological snapshots.
The study also found that ageing does not occur gradually but unfolds in distinct stages. Fish experienced stable periods followed by rapid shifts in behaviour, a pattern researchers described as “staged ageing.”
Researchers identified around 100 basic movement patterns, or “behavioural syllables,” and found that higher activity levels and consistent night-time sleep were linked to longer lifespans.
The findings may have implications for humans, as wearable devices increasingly track movement and sleep patterns. Scientists suggest that similar monitoring could help identify early signs of ageing, cognitive decline, or disease, allowing for preventive interventions.