For those who enjoy taking a nap during the day, experts have shared some news that might be of interest. According to a new study, getting some shut eye in the daytime can have major health benefits on the brain.
As the brain ages, it shrinks in volume - particularly in the frontal cortex, causing memory decline. Meanwhile, blood pressure rises, increases the risk of stroke and ischaemia increases - a condition that reduces blood flow.
However, a marker of good brain health is its size, and having a brief snooze can help keep the brain bigger as it ages. This can also help to lower the risk of dementia and other diseases, researchers claim.
Going to sleep for as little as 30 minutes a day can hinder brain shrinkage, which naturally occurs as people get older. Brain shrinkage is accelerated in people with cognitive problems and neurodegenerative diseases, with some research suggesting this may be related to sleep problems.
The study - which was conducted by the University College London - found that the brains of people who nap often were 5 cubic centimetres (0.9 cubic inches) larger. This is the equivalent to delaying ageing in the brain by around three to six years.
The findings have been published in the Journal Sleep Health and focussed on analysing data of people aged 40 to 69. By using a method called Mendelian randomisation, researchers were able to inspect 97 snippets of DNA to determine people’s likelihood of habitual napping.
Comparing brain health and cognition among people who genetically are more 'programmed' to nap with those who aren't - via data from 378,932 people by a UK Biobank study - experts were able to determine that those predetermined to nap had a larger total brain volume.
Lead author and PhD candidate, Valentina Paz, commented: "By looking at genes set at birth, Mendelian randomisation avoids confounding factors occurring throughout life that may influence associations between napping and health outcomes. Our study points to a causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume.”
Dr Victoria Garfield also said: "I hope studies such as this one showing the health benefits of short naps can help to reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping."
Previous research has shown that napping has cognitive benefits, with people who have had a short nap performing better in cognitive tests in the hours afterwards than counterparts who did not nap.
