Key Findings
The “Restorative” Exception: While 20% to 60% of older adults nap, infrequent and short naps remain restorative. The risk is specifically tied to excessive and frequent daytime sleep.
Consistency Matters: Interestingly, irregular napping patterns (napping one day but not the next) were not associated with increased mortality. It is the persistent, heavy napping habit that signals danger.
Immense Clinical Value: The study advocates for the use of “daytime nap assessments” in clinical settings to prevent further health decline in aging populations.
Source: Mass General
New research reveals that as people age, naps may be an easily trackable warning sign of underlying conditions or declining health.
A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Rush University Medical Center followed 1,338 older adults for up to 19 years to track napping habits and associated mortality rates. They found longer, more frequent, and morning naps were associated with higher mortality rates.
“Excessive napping later in life has been linked to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases and even greater morbidity, but many of those findings rely on self-reported napping habits and leave out metrics like when and how regular those naps are,” said lead author Chenlu Gao, PhD, an investigator in the Department of Anesthesiology in the Mass General Brigham, who is also an affiliated research fellow in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders in the Department of Medicine.
Key Questions Answered:
Q: If I take a 20-minute power nap, am I at risk?
A: No. The study highlights excessive napping, specifically, additional hours or multiple naps per day. Short, infrequent naps are still considered a healthy way to recharge for many people.
Q: Why is a morning nap worse than an afternoon nap?
A: A morning nap is a major indicator of “sleep pressure” or circadian rhythm failure. It suggests that the person did not get restorative sleep at night or that their brain’s internal clock is significantly misaligned, which is often linked to neurodegeneration.
Q: Can wearing a fitness tracker help me catch these signs?
A: Yes. The researchers suggest that the “clinical value” lies in using objective data from wearables. If you notice your (or a loved one’s) napping frequency and duration are creeping up over time, it may be worth a conversation with a doctor.
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4 comments:
Phew! I'm glad to read that my 20-minute nap doesn't fall in the 'bad' category.
Interesting warning sign to monitor, thanks for this info!
I wonder if we can combine multiple 20 minute naps?
It's enough to keep someone awake all night!
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