A new study suggests that taking very long daytime naps could be a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. This means that it may be an early symptom rather than a cause of neurodegenerative disease.
The study involved analyzing 1,000 participants over several years.
Some previous studies suggest that naps can affect mood, alertness, and performance on mental tasks. However, a new study suggests that long naps taken during the day may be associated with an increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.
With this, the researchers suggest that very long daytime naps may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, rather than one of the causes, as mentioned earlier.
It could be a sign of accelerated aging. The main sign of regression is that if you don't take a nap and notice that you're starting to feel more sleepy during the day, it could be a sign of declining cognitive health.
He said Yu Lingassistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.
Study interprets napping as a symptom rather than a cause of Alzheimer's disease
Over a 14-year period, the scientists analyzed more than 1,401 people with an average age of 81. Each year, participants wore a watch-like device, which tracked their movement. For the purposes of the study, each prolonged period of inactivity from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. was interpreted as a nap.
In addition, participants also annually underwent tests to assess cognition. At baseline, 76% of the participants had no cognitive impairment, 20% had mild cognitive impairment, and 4% had Alzheimer's disease.
For participants who did not develop any cognitive impairment, daily naps increased by an average of 11 minutes per year. That number doubled when the scientists looked at participants with mild cognitive impairment -- 24 minutes. In contrast, it nearly tripled to a total of 68 minutes after an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Yu Ling, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco
Therefore, participants who slept more than an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than those who slept less than an hour a day. Furthermore, participants who slept at least once a day were 40% more likely to get sick than those who slept less than once a day.
According to the researchers, unusual sleep patterns, insomnia and poor quality of sleep at night are common problems in people with dementia. The latest studies show that the nap link remains, even when considering a night's sleep. Therefore, according to Ling, "This indicates that the role of daytime naps is important in and of itself."
So the authors suggest that feeling increasingly sleepy during the day could be an early sign of changes in the brain that could be an indicator of dementia.
The study was published in Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.