A power nap can do more than just boost your energy levels. A new study finds that a midday snooze can be good for your brain health and keep your cognitive abilities sharper.
Exactly what IS a nap? The research team in Shanghai says a power nap is anywhere from five minutes to two hours. The study looked at 2,200 people over the age of 60. More than 1,500 of them took a nap regularly after lunch.
Study author Dr. Lin Sun says regular naps are linked to better mental agility. That includes better locational awareness, verbal fluency, and working memory.
The researchers are looking into the idea that regular naps can help to fight dementia.
“But research published to date hasn’t reached any consensus on whether afternoon naps might help to stave off cognitive decline and dementia in older people or whether they might be a symptom of dementia.”
This is an observational study, and so can't establish cause. And there was no information on the duration or timing of the naps taken, which may be important.
Sleep regulates the body's immune response and napping is thought to be an evolved response to inflammation; people with higher levels of inflammation also nap more often, explain the researchers.
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