A large study suggests that regular daytime napping, especially in the early afternoon, may be linked to a higher risk of early death, with irregular and longer naps potentially indicating underlying health issues. Experts recommend doctors inquire about patients' napping habits as part of health assessments, as these patterns could serve as early signs of declining health or underlying conditions like heart disease or dementia.
New research suggests that adults who take short daytime naps could be slowing the rate at which the brain shrinks with age. Researchers found an association between habitual daytime napping and larger total brain volume, which could suggest that napping regularly provides some protection against neurodegeneration through compensating for poor sleep. The brains of those with the genetic predisposition to habitual daytime napping were about 0.9 cubic inches larger than those of the genetic non-nappers, which researchers said was equivalent to 2.6 to 6.5 fewer years of aging.
