A recent US study indicates that certain napping habits in older adults could be a critical warning sign. Researchers found that frequent daytime napping, particularly in the morning, is associated with higher mortality rates.
This excessive napping may signal developing health problems, offering a trackable metric for early detection. "Our study is one of the first to show an association between objectively measured nap patterns and mortality, and suggests there is immense clinical value in tracking napping patterns to catch health conditions early," stated lead author Chenlu Gao of Mass General Brigham.
While previous research has linked frequent napping to conditions like hypertension and stroke, the exact relationship remains unclear, with correlation not necessarily implying causation. "Excessive napping later in life has been linked to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, and even greater morbidity, but many of those findings rely on self-reported napping habits," Gao noted.
The study utilized objective data from the Rush University Memory and Aging Project, incorporating wrist monitors to track napping patterns over extended periods for 1,338 individuals. This provided granular data on nap length, frequency, and timing.
Findings revealed that longer, more frequent, and morning naps were associated with increased death risk. Each additional hour of daily napping correlated with a 13 percent higher mortality risk, and each extra nap per day, a 7 percent increase. Morning nappers faced a 30 percent higher risk compared to early afternoon nappers.
Researchers emphasize that napping itself isn't necessarily the cause but likely an indicator of underlying diseases, chronic conditions, or sleep disturbances. "Rather than discouraging daytime dozing, these findings cast naps as potentially valuable clues about a person's health," Gao concluded. The study's insights could lead to the implementation of wearable daytime nap assessments for early health prediction.