New Findings From 2025 Sleep Research
When Feeling Okay Is Not Enough
December 10, 2025
New Findings From 2025 Sleep Research
Sleep science continued to advance in 2025. One of the most significant analyses came from wearable-device data collected by Withings between March 2020 and March 2025 (Sleep Trends Report 2020–2025: Long-term Changes in U.S. Sleep Duration and Associated Health Markers by Withings Health Solutions.) The data covered millions of nights of sleep in the United States and demonstrated a steady decline in average nightly sleep. Dr. Deryk Harting, a team member of one of the highest rated car accident medical doctor care organizations in Florida, discusses the findings from the 2025 Sleep Research.
Americans lost an average of 32 minutes of sleep per night over the 5-year period. That reduction adds up to about 120 full nights of sleep per person. The data showed that this was not due to one major event but was a gradual loss of sleep quantity across age groups and regions.
Reduced sleep was also linked to several major health risks. People who slept less showed higher cardiovascular risk, including elevated resting heart rate and higher bodyweight. The data also suggested that sleep loss may shorten overall longevity. Individuals in the lowest cardiovascular risk category slept an average of 27.6 minutes more per night than those in the highest risk category.
Seasonal influences played a role as well. Sleep duration diminished around the summer solstice when days are the longest and evening light increases. Geographic differences were also present. States like Hawaii and Texas showed large seasonal swings, while places such as Montana and Vermont maintained more consistent patterns throughout the year.
Sleep is not a single state. It is a repeating cycle of different stages that support memory, mood, metabolism, and physical recovery. How sleep works:
- Each sleep cycle lasts about 90-110 minutes. Most people complete 4 to 6 cycles per night. The cycle contains two major categories: non-REM sleep (stages 1-3) and REM sleep.
- Stage 1 marks the transition from wakefulness to sleep. It lasts only a few minutes as heart rate, breathing, and muscle activity begin to slow.
- Stage 2 is deeper and more stable. Brain activity slows and produces sleep spindles and K-complexes, which help regulate sensory input and maintain uninterrupted sleep.
- Stage 3, often called deep sleep or slow wave sleep, is the most restorative stage. The body repairs tissue, supports the immune system, and consolidates certain types of memory. Missing this stage can impair physical recovery and increase fatigue.
- After deep sleep, the brain shifts into REM sleep. REM is marked by rapid eye movement and vivid dreaming. Brain activity increases and resembles wakefulness. REM plays a major role in learning, creativity, emotional regulation, memory, problem solving, and cognitive performance. Chronic loss of REM sleep can impair these in addition to metabolism and immunity.
A full night of sleep depends on completing multiple cycles. When total sleep time is reduced, the body adjusts by compressing or skipping stages. Lighter stages and REM sleep are often the first to be affected. This is why chronic sleep loss can affect weight, cardiovascular health, mood, and cognitive function. A consistent loss of 20 or 30 minutes may seem minor but limits access to the sleep stages that support optimal long-term health.
— This article is written by Deryk Harting, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Florida.
