Caught napping? It may be good for your brain
Researchers have discovered some benefits of nodding off during the day.
As toddlers, we were told that a daytime nap was good for us, no matter how much we wanted to resist it.
Then as we grew up and went to school, daytime sleep was suddenly off the agenda. As adults, nodding off was unthinkable.
Some people swear by their afternoon naps, but the jury is still out on the benefits of sleep outside of the regular hours overnight.
What we do know is that human sleeping habits have changed over the years, decades and centuries.
Before the Industrial Revolution, people would go to bed and rise with the sun – meaning long hours of sleep during winter and shorter hours during the summer.
As recently as Victorian times, before most homes had electric light, many people had a “little sleep” soon after it fell dark. They woke up for a few hours and ate before a “big sleep” would take them through to the morning.
It’s only relatively recently that we have fallen into the pattern of having eight hours of uninterrupted sleep overnight. Even that isn’t universal, with many people in Spain and elsewhere still enjoying a daily siesta.
Researchers at University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay recently analysed data from 35,080 people and found a link between genetic predispositions to habitual daytime napping and larger brain volume.
Larger brains indicate good brain health and suggest a lower risk of dementia and other diseases.
One of the researchers, Dr Victoria Garfield, 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."
She added, “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."
University of Queensland Professor of Sleep and Health Simon Smith struck a note of caution about the research, saying it didn’t measure brain shrinkage, which can be indicative of Alzheimers disease, stroke, excessive alcohol use and other conditions.
However, he told the ABC that napping is “relatively common” throughout the human lifespan, often associated with illness, jet lag, lack of regular sleep, or changes in routine.
“In adults, naps are more often taken when very tired, and can result in improvements in cognition because of a reduction in tiredness,” he said. “The effects of regular napping are less certain.”
Napping during the day can affect each of us differently, depending on factors such as the duration and timing of the nap, individual sleep needs, and personal preferences.
Some pros include:
A short nap can help boost alertness, improve cognitive function, and enhance productivity, particularly if you are feeling fatigued or drowsy during the day.
Napping can enhance your mood, reduce stress levels, and promote a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. It can also help you manage irritability and mood swings.
Research suggests napping can aid in memory consolidation, helping you retain and recall information better.
Cons of napping:
Longer or deeper naps may lead to sleep inertia, which is a feeling of grogginess and disorientation upon waking.
Napping too close to your regular bedtime can make it harder to fall asleep at night, potentially disrupting your nighttime sleep.
Frequent or long naps can create a dependency on daytime sleep and interfere with establishing a consistent sleep schedule.
Professor Smith told the ABC that sleeping overnight is generally preferable to daytime naps.
“Our internal body clocks also work to keep sleep within the night-time hours,” he said.
“Napping isn’t necessarily a bad thing but may reduce some of the need or ‘drive’ for night-time sleep.”
Related reading: ABC, Science Daily
