Waking up at five in the morning is not, in itself, a healthy habit and has no scientific basis as a general recommendation. The Spanish Society of Neurology, through its Study Group on Wakefulness and Sleep Disorders, warns that imposing such a schedule can have negative effects for the majority of the population.
The paradox highlighted by neurologists is clear. A routine often presented as a sign of discipline and performance can end up causing just the opposite if it does not respect the necessary hours of sleep, the actual bedtime, and each person's individual biology.
The SEN warns that waking up at five does not improve health by itself
Dr. Celia García Malo, coordinator of the SEN's Study Group on Wakefulness and Sleep Disorders, specifies that the effect of waking up so early depends on several factors. These include the duration of rest, the time one goes to bed, and each person's chronotype.
García Malo explains that chronotype indicates the natural predisposition to be more active in the morning, at night, or to show no clear preference. The neurologist adds that this biological pattern does not respond solely to habits or discipline.
"Trying to modify it aggressively is equivalent to constantly going against one's own biological clock" - Celia García Malo, coordinator of the Study Group on Wakefulness and Sleep Disorders, Spanish Society of Neurology
From this medical perspective, setting a wakefulness schedule without considering individual needs can lead to chronic sleep deprivation. The specialist adds that this mismatch can act as a trigger for insomnia or for poorer sleep efficiency.
Sleeping less than six hours increases the risk of cognitive decline by up to 30%
The scientific society links this habitual reduction in rest with effects that go beyond daily fatigue. Forcing a change in chronotype can worsen cognitive function, alter mood, and reduce energy levels.
Furthermore, the SEN recalls that various studies have shown that sleeping less than six hours a day increases the risk of cognitive decline by up to 30%. It also links this pattern with a higher probability of suffering from neurological and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, as well as depression or anxiety disorders.
During nocturnal sleep, the organism eliminates neurotoxic substances from the brain, consolidates memory, and regulates emotions. Celia García Malo insists that waking up at five in the morning can only be valued based on bedtime, total rest time, and individual biology.