Friday, October 30, 2026 · Edition updated 6:00 AM ETFRI, OCT 30 · 6 AM ET editionNext edition in Next --:--:--
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Protect your brain and memory: sleep

Sleeping well as you age. What people try, how far the research on each has got, and the products that contain them.

What people try

4Getting enough sleepStage 4 · Widely recommended · FreeSleep is a natural process that helps your body restore energy, supports learning and memory, and keeps you healthy.Main risk: Sleep deprivation makes the effect of alcohol stronger.4Too much sittingStage 4 · Widely recommended · FreeToo much sitting means long periods of low-energy time spent sitting, reclining or lying while awake.Main risk: Adults who sit a lot are linked to higher rates of death from any cause, heart disease and cancer.2Fitness trackers: watches, bands and ringsStage 2 · Small studies in people · Over the counterSmartwatches and fitness trackers are wrist-worn monitors that people commonly use to count their steps each day.Main risk: The pages stress that wrist-worn monitors may not count steps as accurately as hip-worn pedometers.2Sleep trackersStage 2 · Small studies in people · Over the counterSleep trackers are wearable devices and apps that claim to measure how long and how well you sleep.Main risk: A review of studies found wrist-worn sleep trackers are not as reliable as polysomnography, a lab sleep test, for key measures like total sleep time.

Products

Sorted by the best research stage of each product's ingredients, then by price. The stage describes research on the ingredient, not proof that the product works.

Devices 21

Amazfit · deviceHelio StrapFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$99.99Google · deviceFitbit Charge 6Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$159.95RingConnRingConn Gen 2 AirFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$199WithingsSleep AnalyzerSleep trackers2 This type: small studies in people$199.95AmazfitAmazfit Helio Strap ProFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$199.99PolarPolar LoopFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$199.99AppleApple Watch SE 3Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$229Hume Health · deviceHume Band 2.0Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$249Google · deviceGoogle Pixel Watch 4Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$249.99SamsungGalaxy RingFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$299.99SamsungGalaxy Watch8Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$299.99Garminvívoactive 6Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$299.99RingConnRingConn Gen 3Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$349WhoopWHOOP MGFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$359SamsungGalaxy Watch9Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$379.99Apple · deviceApple Watch Series 11Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$399OuraOura Ring 5Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$399UltrahumanUltrahuman Ring PROFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$479GarminVenu® 4Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$549.99WithingsScanWatch NovaFitness trackers: watches, bands and rings2 This type: small studies in people$599.95Eight SleepEight Sleep PodSleep trackers2 This type: small studies in people$1,224

Recent research

Study in 896 adults with depression and 36,206 without, from UK Biobank

Lifestyle differences may shape how brain aging looks in people with depression

Researchers grouped people with depression by lifestyle and fitness, then looked at their brain age.

Study in 69 breast cancer survivors

How activity is measured changes its link to gut bacteria in breast cancer survivors

Researchers compared three ways of measuring activity and fitness with gut bacteria.

See all the latest research →

What others are writing

Recent articles from health journalists, hospitals and universities. We link to them; we don't write or endorse them.

Cleveland Clinic · Jul 29, 2026

Do Fitness Trackers Really Work? ↗

Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings: The article says few fitness trackers have been validated, with step count and heart rate the most accurate metrics.

seas.harvard.edu · Anne J. Manning · Feb 18, 2026

A More Accurate Measure of Calories Burned ↗

Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings: A Harvard study describes a smartphone-based calorie monitor that it says outperforms smartwatches and fitness trackers, which often estimate calorie burn inaccurately.

Fortune · Ashley Lutz · Oct 30, 2025

Harvard professor calls out 'lie' of needing 8 hours of sleep a night, says it's Industrial Era 'nonsense' ↗

Getting enough sleep: The article argues that the eight-hour sleep rule is outdated and that about seven hours is often optimal for healthy adults.

Nature (news) · Naji Alqahtani, Adel Bashatah, Mohammad K. Alharbi, Wajid Syed · Oct 27, 2025

Exploring usage and perceived effectiveness of fitness trackers and mobile health applications among university students in Saudi Arabia ↗

Fitness trackers: watches, bands and rings: A study of Saudi university students found wristbands and smartwatches were the most commonly used fitness trackers.

This is general information gathered from the sources listed, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting anything new.