Does daytime napping affect your brain health?

According to a study by the University of California and the University of the Republic of Uruguay, regular napping may result in better and greater brain health. 

The research findings suggest a correlation between napping and larger brains, which has been linked to lower risks of dementia and other diseases. The study aimed to investigate if a link exists between napping and brain health.

According to the study, a daytime nap can provide an additional bonus to maintain brain health by slowing down the rate of brain shrinkage as we age.

Victoria Garfield, the lead researcher at the University of California, suggested that short daytime naps may be essential in maintaining brain health as we grow older. The research aimed to break the “medical myths” surrounding daytime napping and its health benefits.

The study analyzed data from people between the ages of 40 and 69, and it showed that those who take small naps during the day have better and greater brain health than others.

Additionally, the study suggests that people who nap for 30 minutes or less benefit the most from napping. The study further suggested that napping earlier in the day may be less likely to disrupt sleep during the night.

Research from various other universities like in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom showed that approximately a third of adults aged 65 or over take regular naps.

However, taking naps regularly is likely not going to be an option for all people, especially those who have jobs and tasks to attend to, and napping later in the day may affect their sleep schedule, so as good as daytime naps are, the reality would be that not everyone will be able to find time for them.