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Sleep Deprivation & Youth

Though adults are dangerously sleep deprived, the news is even worse for adolescents. According to sleep researcher Mary Carskadon, teens need an average of 9 ½ hours of sleep a night. But they average just 6 ½ hours on weekdays, which just isn’t enough to stay healthy.

Younger kids are luckier. According to sleep researcher William Dement, elementary-age children are the most "wide awake" age group. They usually get 10 hours of sleep, and generally have no trouble staying alert until bedtime. Still, many kids do not get as much sleep as they should.

Rats who are completely sleep-deprived in scientific experiments die faster than ones who are totally deprived of food!

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Mary Carskadon

William Dement