A short afternoon nap was linked to better mental mobility through a new study – improved location awareness, oral fluency and working memory were observed in participants who slept versus those who did not.
The survey looked at a total of 2,214 people aged 60 and over in China. They were all asked what their sleeping habits were, and then gave a series of tests to measure different types of cognitive abilities, from problem solving to focused.
While the length and frequency of naps varied among the volunteers interviewed, the analysis found that ‘cognitive performance scores were‘ significantly higher ’in people who said they regularly get a blind eye in the middle of the day.
“Several studies have shown that napping promotes cognitive function in the elderly; on the other hand, some studies have shown opposite results,” the researchers write in their published article.
“This study highlighted higher cognitive performance in diapers in the elderly, supporting previous observational studies.”
That some studies support the idea that daytime sleepiness has been linked to better brain function while other studies do not is a bit of a mystery to scientists, and to those of us who ask ourselves whether we should work on a to form sleeping habit or not.
The researchers in this case suggest that whether the drowsiness is intentional, as well as the duration of the naps, may play a role – these factors are not measured here, although naps are defined as longer than two hours and longer than five minutes .
Even with the limitations of the study – which is not enough to indicate cause and effect, just a connection – the researchers say that it is useful to look at how sleep can serve as a kind of mediator between poor health and the inflammatory reactions of the body.
Previous studies have looked in detail at the link between sleep and the immune system, and suggestions have been made that drowsiness may have an effect here as well.
It is important to remember that health and well-being go far beyond the cognitive function, and therefore much must be considered when determining whether dormancy is good for us.
“When a disease or cell damage occurs, it can help regulate the inflammatory response,” the researchers write.
This study also looked at the level of triglycerides, a type of fat found in blood, in the participants.
The results found that regular diapers have higher levels of these lipids than non-diapers – perhaps because those with a more sedentary lifestyle are more likely to sleep. This is another area that future research could focus on, the team behind the study suggests.
While sleep usually occurs more as people get older, scientists are still unsure whether this type of nap can help prevent dementia and other types of cognitive decline, or whether it is actually a symptom of it.
At the moment, the consensus seems to be that sleeping is usually good for us, and that, in general, enough sleep and rest is needed to keep our body healthy and sound.
And if you’re wondering how common the study sample was, 1,534 people said they took at least occasional naps, while 680 did not – so if you are tempted to shut up a bit during the day , you are definitely not alone.
The research was published in General Psychiatry.