Memory, concentration and the ability to absorb new information depend directly on sleep quality, somnologist Dr Karina Agibalova told Russian news outlet Lenta.ru.
Agibalova, a therapist and sleep specialist at the VERBA Medical Resort, described a high quality night of rest as the single best investment a person can make in their brain health.
Somnology is the medical discipline focused on sleep patterns, sleep architecture, and the diagnosis of sleep disorders. Preventative health facilities like the VERBA Medical Resort integrate somnology into clinical care to help patients improve long term cognitive performance and physical recovery.
Memory consolidation and sleep cycles
She identified the consolidation of information gathered throughout the day as one of the primary functions of sleep. During night rest, the brain transfers newly acquired data from short term memory into long term storage.
Skipping either deep sleep or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disrupts this consolidation process, Agibalova explained. As a result, absorbing new knowledge becomes significantly more difficult after a sleepless night.
Agibalova added that a pronounced reduction in deep sleep can, over time, impair long term memory related to past events. Nighttime rest also enables the body to restore energy resources, repair muscles and tissues, support the immune and nervous systems, and normalize metabolic rates and hormone levels.
Recommended sleep duration and health warnings
Because sleep deprivation impairs these restorative processes, attention span and work capacity decrease by approximately half when a person lacks sufficient sleep, Agibalova noted.
To preserve cognitive performance and overall health, the doctor recommended sleeping between seven and nine hours each night. She advised going to bed between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. whenever possible.
Standard sleep hygiene guidelines recommend maintaining consistent bedtime schedules to support circadian rhythms, the biological clock that regulates hormone release and sleep architecture. Sleeping seven to nine hours aligns with international health benchmarks for adult restorative rest.
Her advice follows previous guidance from fellow somnologist Roman Buzunov, who warned that a sudden increase in night sleep duration can indicate underlying health problems. Buzunov urged individuals to remain alert if their sleep time rises sharply.
