While the effects in Axelsson's research were observed after severe sleep ation, he says his team will soon tackle whether an occasional short night deep can also cause problems. This experiment called for severe deprivation because the scientists wanted to maximize any effects. "We cannot really say when the effects start if it's six hours or five hours, but it probably starts gradually," Axelsson said. "It's possible that you get these effects through chronic sleep deprivation as well," Study Prompted by Daughter's "Sleeping Beauty" Question The idea of beauty rest is ingrained in popular culture, but it's apparently never been put to the test by science. Axelsson said his young daughter gave him the reason to take on the subject. She was watching the classic animated film "Sleeping Beauty" when she had a question. "My daughter asked me, why is the sleeping beauty so beautiful? Is it because she sleeps a lot?" Axelsson. recalled. "As a scientist, I couldn't answer, so I had to do a study." The Swedish research team says its findings have implications beyond looking good. Axelsson said that the findings could be important for doctors, who should familiarize themselves with the sleep history of a patient to provide a more precise diagnosis. Plenty of research points to the importance of a good night's sleep. Over the years, studies have found links between poor sleep and Alzheimer's disease, depression, and even we ght gain. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control found that 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from constant sleep loss or sleep disorders, and the number of people averaging six hours of sleep or less was on the rise.