Sleep Deprivation and Academic Performance
Abstract
Sleep deprivation is a pervasive and increasingly well-documented problem among medical students worldwide, with epidemiological evidence consistently indicating that a substantial proportion obtain less than the recommended seven hours of nightly sleep. First-year students face a particularly acute transition, characterised by heavy cognitive demands, unfamiliar learning environments, and disrupted circadian rhythms. The consequences extend beyond fatigue, encompassing impaired memory consolidation, reduced executive function, attenuated academic performance, and heightened psychological distress. This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the mechanisms and academic consequences of sleep deprivation in medical students, examines modifiable risk factors including digital device use and circadian misalignment, and considers the emerging evidence base for behavioural and institutional interventions. While causal inference is constrained by methodological heterogeneity across studies, convergent evidence supports sleep promotion as a legitimate academic and public health priority within medical education.