Taking Power Naps During the Day May Be Good for Your Brain, According to a New Study
Scientists have conducted a new study highlighting the potential cognitive benefits of daytime napping and its impact on brain volume.
The findings may encourage more people to embrace this Mediterranean lifestyle habit.
While some individuals struggle to fall asleep after a busy day, others can easily doze off at any time and in any place, even if only for a few minutes.
The study, carried out by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the Universidad de la Republica de Montevideo, Uruguay, suggests that individuals who can nap briefly may maintain better alertness as they age, which in turn contributes to brain health.
Published in the journal Sleep Health, the research analyzed data from a large sample of 35,080 people aged between 40 and 69, sourced from UK Biobank data.
Participants were initially asked how often they took regular, occasional, rare, or no daytime naps.
These responses were later validated using sleep trackers.
Additionally, the researchers established the participants’ genetic profiles based on data from previous studies.
They used this information to identify individuals who regularly napped by examining 92 genetic differences, and then assessed their brain size.
The results are quite surprising. They suggest that individuals who regularly engage in daytime napping have greater brain volume compared to those who rarely or never nap.
Assuming that the brain volume declines by 0.2% to 0.5% annually from the age of 35, the researchers estimate that regular nappers may have brains that are 2.6 to 6.5 years younger than their non-napping counterparts.
The scientists explain, “This difference roughly corresponds to the difference in brain volume between people with normal cognitive function and those with mild cognitive impairment.”
It should be noted that the study refers to “short naps” without specifying the specific duration or frequency needed to achieve these brain health benefits. Nonetheless, the research highlights that regular brief periods of rest can contribute to the preservation of brain health.
The study also suggests that napping for 5 to 15 minutes can be particularly beneficial.
However, a previous study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, published in April, indicated that taking long naps could have negative effects on health.
Naps lasting longer than 30 minutes reportedly increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, napping seems to be beneficial as long as it does not exceed a certain duration.
