Short daytime naps may keep brain healthy as it ages, study says

‘Napping regularly provides some protection against neurodegeneration through compensating for poor sleep,’ the researchers note. Photograph: Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images

Taking a short nap during the day may help to protect the brain’s health as it ages, researchers have suggested after finding that the practice appears to be associated with larger brain volume.

While previous research has suggested long naps could be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, other work has revealed that a brief doze can improve people’s ability to learn.