The practice of taking a brief nap during the day appears to be related to greater brain volume, leading researchers to speculate that it may help safeguard brain health as it matures.
While earlier studies indicated that long naps could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, recent studies have shown that a quick snooze can aid in learning. Researchers now claim to have discovered data suggesting that napping may assist in preventing brain atrophy. The researchers note the significance of this, as cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders are associated with an accelerated rate of brain shrinkage, a natural process linked to aging, and some evidence suggests that this may be related to sleep issues.
Based on previous findings, the researchers found a connection between routine daytime naps and a higher total brain volume. They write that this connection “could suggest that routine napping provides some protection against neurodegeneration by compensating for poor sleep.” Researchers from UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay used data from the UK Biobank study, which compiled genetic, lifestyle, and health information from 500,000 participants aged 40 to 69. The results of their study were made public through publication in the journal Sleep Health. The team examined whether a collection of genetic variations previously associated with self-reported frequent daytime napping is also linked to brain volume, cognition, and other brain health characteristics, using information from 35,080 Biobank users.
This method allows researchers to investigate the relationship between napping and the brain while minimizing the impact of lifestyle factors such as smoking or physical activity, which can affect people’s napping habits and brain health. These variants are present at birth and assumed to be randomly assigned. Dr. Victoria Garfield, a co-author of the study from University College London, noted that these variants were extremely widespread and stated, “It is like a natural randomized control trial.” The author also mentioned that they affect at least 1% of the population, which is a significant number of people.
At first, it seemed that individuals who infrequently or never engaged in daytime napping exhibited greater overall brain volume. However, when accounting for genetic predisposition to napping, the team discovered the opposite relationship, suggesting that other factors may have influenced the initial finding. Although there was no correlation with cognitive function, such as reaction times, the team did find a link between a genetic propensity for persistent daytime napping and a greater brain capacity equivalent to 2.6 to 6.5 fewer years of aging. Garfield stated, “It might be that taking a brief nap during the day could help preserve brain volume, and that’s a good thing, potentially for dementia prevention.” Earlier studies suggested that a nap lasting up to 30 minutes might be beneficial.
Garfield noted that numerous risk factors can contribute to dementia, and various other factors can affect brain capacity. Additionally, the study primarily included data from white British adults, so it is unclear if the length of the nap is specifically linked to the benefits observed. Furthermore, it is unknown if napping would have the same positive effects on individuals without a genetic predisposition. Prof. Tara Spires-Jones, the president of the British Neuroscience Association, group leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute, and deputy director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, expressed her warm reception of the study. Nevertheless, she highlighted several limitations, one being the potential for inaccuracies in the self-reported napping habits of UK Biobank participants.
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