Children who sleep less may age faster at a cellular level

A LACK of sleep doesn’t just turn children into a grumpy handful, it may also accelerate their cellular ageing – a process that could have long-term health effects. Telomeres – the caps at the ends of our chromosomes – get shorter every time our cells divide, and when they get too short, it is thought that cells are no longer able to divide to repair and replenish the body – a sign of ageing. Some small studies in adults have suggested that sleep might be linked to telomere length....
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23531333-200-children-who-sleep-less-show-signs-of-ageing-in-their-cells/