The Science of Sleep, Aging, and Living Better for Longer

What if sleeping too much is almost as bad for you as sleeping too little? Brad sits down with Dr Junhao (Hao) Wen, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, whose latest research in Nature maps how sleep duration shapes biological aging across 23 organ systems. They get into what a biological aging clock actually is, why both short and long sleep speed up aging, and why the much-quoted "sweet spot" of 6.4 to 7.8 hours is a starting framework rather than a rule. Hao explains why long sleep may be a warning light rather than a cause, how the optimal range differs for women and men, and what all of this means for anyone trying to sleep better without spiraling into sleep-score anxiety. A grounded, practical conversation about sleep, longevity, and staying human in the age of AI-driven medicine. Study referenced: Sleep chart of biological aging clocks in middle and late life (Nature, 2026) — https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158...