Experts Studied Daytime Habits of Older Adults—One Was Linked to Dementia
Summary
A study from Johns Hopkins University found that frequent daytime napping in older adults may be linked to a higher chance of developing dementia. The research observed people over 65 for up to 10 years and noted that both intentional and unintentional naps, especially those lasting 30 minutes or less, were connected to increased dementia risk.Key Facts
- Researchers studied nearly 1,000 adults aged 65+ without dementia at the start, over a 10-year period.
- People who napped most days or every day had a 48% higher risk of developing dementia.
- Unintentional napping was linked to a 39% higher risk.
- Naps lasting 30 minutes or less were associated with a 40% increased risk.
- The study suggests a possible two-way link: cognitive decline could cause more napping, and napping might also raise dementia risk.
- Abnormal proteins called amyloid and tau, linked to dementia, can affect brain areas that control sleep.
- Daytime napping may disrupt the body's natural sleep drive, leading to poorer nighttime sleep.
- Poor nighttime sleep and conditions like sleep apnea have been shown to increase dementia risk through various brain changes.
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