The Healthspan Map · Sleep (Ch6)
Daytime alertness
Compiled by Aamir Malik, PhD, Professor of Neuroengineering at Brno University of Technology, from published studies. He is a researcher, not a physician. Last updated 21 August 2026.
What this is linked to
| Condition or system | Direction | Strength | Evidence type | What was found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brain fog & memory | Watch this | Moderate | Systematic review | Sleep deprivation impairs attention and working memory; 7-8 h is optimal for cognition. | Sleep-cognition overview 2023 (opens in a new tab) |
| Depression / low mood | Watch this | Emerging | RCT / meta-analysis | Insomnia roughly doubles the risk of developing depression (OR 2.60); a core modifiable risk factor. | Baglioni et al. 2011 (opens in a new tab) |
| Headache & migraine | Watch this | Emerging | RCT / meta-analysis | Irregular sleep is a major migraine trigger; consistent sleep-wake schedules are a cornerstone of prevention. | Robblee & Starling 2019, Cleveland Clinic J Med; lifestyle-migraine meta 2024 (opens in a new tab) |
| Headache & migraine | Watch this | Emerging | Review / narrative | Irregular sleep is a major migraine trigger; consistent sleep-wake schedules are a cornerstone of prevention. | Robblee & Starling, "SEEDS for success: Lifestyle management in migraine", Cleve Clin J Med 2019 (opens in a new tab) |
| General / Whole-body Energy | Watch this | Strong | Established clinical | Excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with impaired functioning, accidents and increased mortality. | Epworth Sleepiness Scale efficacy review (opens in a new tab) |
| General / Whole-body Energy | Watch this | Moderate | Cohort / observational | Abnormal or worsening Epworth sleepiness was associated with higher 5-year all-cause mortality. | Veterans cohort (n=17,967, ESS and mortality) (opens in a new tab) |
| Neurological & Mental Health | Watch this | Moderate | Established clinical | Excessive sleepiness reduces mental processing, concentration and reaction time. | Sleepiness and neurocognitive-function literature (opens in a new tab) |
| Respiratory | Watch this | Emerging | Cohort / observational | Persistent daytime sleepiness can signal underlying sleep-disordered breathing. | Sleepiness and obstructive-sleep-apnea literature (opens in a new tab) |
The Healthspan Map is part of Fix the Floor, a book by Aamir Malik. About the book