Napping Daily Could Slow Your Brain From Shrinking With Age
According to the National Institutes of Health, one’s brain begins to decline in volume and/or weight around 5% every decade from the age of 40 onward. Though it’s not entirely certain, most experts credit the shrinking due to neuronal cell death. Curious how to slow down this degradation? The cure may as simple as daily naps!
Yup, experts are telling you to take a daily nap! Well, of sorts. Apparently, a study done by UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay has shown that taking a nap during the day can possibly correlate with larger total brain volume. Senior author of the study, Dr Victoria Garfield, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL said:
Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older.
Through a technique called Mendelian randomisation, researches examined 378,932 people from the UK Biobank study. They compared those more genetically programmed to habitually nap against the opposite. Results backed those predetermined to nap with having a larger brain volume. Specifically, habitual nappers were found to have a 2.6 to 6.5 years of ageing difference than non-habitual nappers.
“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.”
Data has shown for some time now that napping can lead to certain cognitive benefits. Prior studies suggest the perfect nap duration is somewhere between 30 minutes or less. Plus, it’s recommended you squeeze your daytime nap earlier in the day to not disturb your rest come nighttime.
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