Regular daytime napping linked to larger brain volume
Daytime napping may help preserve brain health by slowing the rate of brain shrinkage as we age, according to a new study led by researchers from UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay. This finding is significant for understanding how to lower risks of dementia and other brain diseases.
Source UCL
Published in the journal Sleep Health, the study analysed data from individuals aged 40 to 69 and identified a causal link between habitual napping and greater total brain volume—a key indicator of good brain health. Senior author Dr Victoria Garfield (MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL) highlighted that short daytime naps could be part of the strategy to help maintain brain health as people grow older.
Previous research has shown cognitive benefits of napping, with nappers performing better on cognitive tests soon after resting. This new study sought to establish a causal relationship between daytime napping and brain health, paving the way for further investigations in this field.
