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According to a recent study, taking a power nap during lunchtime has a positive impact on the brain. According to researchers, regular short naps could even reduce the risk of dementia.
A study found that taking naps during the day benefits the brain.
A new study now makes the siesta tasty! Regular midday naps are said to keep the brain more significant for longer. What is meant by this? Here is a brief excursion into the anatomy of the human body: The vast majority of the nerve cells in our brain are interconnected. With age, the brain’s mass decreases continuously. This is entirely normal. However, in the case of dementia, for example, there is an exceptionally rapid loss of brain tissue. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for this type of disease. However, a new study now indicates how to slow down the breakdown of brain tissue.
Earlier studies already suggested that sleep problems could play a role in accelerated brain atrophy. A current study by a research group from the British University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay follows from this theory. The study shows that people who regularly take a nap have, on average, a 1.3 percent higher brain volume.
The research team analyzed over 300,000 people.
In a study, the research team analyzed the DNA samples of over 35,000 people aged between 40 and 69. The results have now been published in the journal Sleep Health. The scientists found that certain genetic predispositions mean that some people are more likely to fall asleep in daylight. In other words, their DNA makes them more inclined to take a power nap during the day. And it was precisely these nap-affine people who showed a larger brain volume in the study. In particular, the scans revealed that the study participants’ brains, who frequently napped during the day, appeared 2.6 to 6.5 years younger.
The results “suggest that for some people, short naps help to maintain brain health as they age – and this is potentially positive for dementia prevention,” according to a press release from Dr. Victoria Garfield, the study’s principal investigator.
The nap should not last longer than half an hour.
However, the researcher also emphasizes that the afternoon nap should not get out of hand. In the study, the researchers recommend an early afternoon nap of less than 30 minutes. This could protect the brain from deterioration caused by too little sleep during the night. However, it is unclear whether the benefits of a nap also develop in people without a genetic predisposition. Further studies are therefore needed to support the thesis.
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