Sneaky midday sleepiness might tell you more than just the fact that you’re just tired. A Johns Hopkins study of 995 Americans ages 65 and older over a period of up to a decade found that those who nap most of the time or daily faced a 48 percent higher risk of developing dementia than their peers who rarely or never nap, even after accounting for health, nighttime sleep and other factors. Additionally, falling asleep unintentionally was linked to a 39% higher risk of dementia, and naps of 30 minutes or less were linked to an increase of about 40%, according to a release.
The researchers emphasize that the study, which relied on self-reported data, does not prove that naps cause dementia. They also acknowledge inconsistent results between studies, some of which found that longer naps caused more problems. According to Neuroscience News, the takeaway is that there is likely a complex “bidirectional” relationship between daytime sleepiness and neurodegeneration, with dementia disrupting regions of the brain that control sleep and wakefulness. The authors of the study, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciencespoint out that changes in nap habits can serve as an early warning sign.
Gn Health
