Frequent daytime naps linked to higher dementia risk in older adults
What Happened
A study led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health followed 995 US adults aged 65 and above who were dementia-free at the start, for up to 10 years. Those who napped most days or every day had a 48% higher risk of developing dementia than people who rarely or never napped. Unintentional naps were associated with a 39% higher risk, while naps lasting 30 minutes or less were linked with a 40% higher risk
Key Takeaways
The study does not prove that napping causes dementia. Researchers say frequent napping could instead be an early marker of changes in brain regions that regulate wakefulness.
Sources
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Medicalxpress