Sleep plays a vital role in memory, immunity, and emotional well-being. Yet, many people, especially entrepreneurs, sacrifice rest to keep up with demanding schedules. Elon Musk is one of the most well-known figures associated with minimal sleep. His intense work ethic at Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink often keeps him up through the night, a lifestyle he has openly admitted to following.
Study Warns of Sleep Deprivation Risks
A recent study has prompted Elon Musk to reconsider—or at least acknowledge—the consequences of poor sleep. He reacted with an “Uh oh” on X (formerly Twitter) after learning about research linking sleep deprivation to brain shrinkage and a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, which followed over 270 adults for 13 to 17 years, found that reduced deep sleep and REM sleep led to shrinkage in brain regions associated with memory. Specifically, a lack of deep sleep affected the inferior parietal cortex, an area crucial for cognitive function.
Researcher Gawon Cho explained, “Reduced neuroactivity during sleep may contribute to brain atrophy, thereby potentially increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.” Even after accounting for other health and lifestyle factors, sleep quality remained a strong predictor of brain health. Scientists believe that improving sleep might help delay or reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Musk’s Sleep Habits in the Spotlight
Musk’s reaction to the study is notable, given his well-documented sleep patterns. In 2022, he revealed on the Full Send podcast that he usually sleeps from 3 a.m. to around 9:30 a.m. In 2023, he told CNBC that getting fewer than six hours of sleep negatively impacted his cognitive abilities. “I’ve tried to sleep less, but… even though I’m awake more hours, I get less done. And the brain pain level is bad if I get less than six hours,” he admitted.
Despite this, biographer Walter Isaacson has noted that Musk continues to push his limits, often dealing with stress-related nausea and vomiting due to his demanding schedule.
Will Musk Change His Ways?
It remains unclear whether Musk will adjust his routine based on these findings. However, one thing is certain—science continues to warn against sleepless nights, no matter how driven or ambitious a person may be.