Listen: We’ve all done it. Everyone has, at one point or another, stayed up too late or pulled an all-nighter. The next day’s bleary consequences are usually enough to dissuade us from repeating this bad habit one too many times, but as we get older, there are more formidable consequences than bloodshot eyes and nodding off during meetings.

Now, research from University College London indicates getting less than five hours of sleep in older adults may be associated with an increased risk of developing two chronic diseases.

Using data from 7,000 participants between the ages of 50 to 70, scientists looked at the relationship between how long individuals slept and whether they had been diagnosed with two or more diseases, like cancer or diabetes. Researchers followed the participants over a period of 25 years.

They found that those around the age of 50 were 20% more likely to have been diagnosed with a chronic disease, and even 40% more likely to be diagnosed with two or more chronic illnesses, over the ensuing 25 years. Their baseline for comparison was people who slept up to seven hours. Even at the age of 60 and 70, researchers found a 30 to 40% increase in risk of developing multimorbidity. This, in turn, was also associated with a 25% increased risk of death.

Part of the study’s origin stemmed from the fact that multimorbidity is appearing more and more in high-income countries. Now, more than 50% of the older adult population has at least two chronic diseases.

Although aging — however gracefully — can change our sleep habits and structure, researchers still recommend sleeping for seven to eight hours a night. Whether it’s meditation or counting sheep, the ends justify the means.