Napping throughout the day, especially for long periods of time, can be an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
A team of scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, concluded, as part of a recent investigation, that prolonged naps are associated with an increased likelihood of developing mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.
according to WatchmanScientists suggest that it’s possible that taking naps more often is an early warning sign, rather than causing mental decline.
It could be one Sign of accelerated agingYu Ling, professor of psychiatry at American University. “The main sign of regression is that if you don’t take a nap and notice that you’re starting to feel more sleepy during the day, it could be a sign of declining cognitive health.”
The team analyzed data from a group of more than 1,000 volunteers, with an average age of 81, over several years. Participants wore a watch-like device to track their movement for up to 14 days, with each extended period of inactivity from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. interpreted as a nap.
The volunteers also took tests to assess cognition each year. At baseline, 76% of the participants had no cognitive impairment, 20% had mild cognitive impairment, and 4% had Alzheimer’s disease.
For participants who did not develop any cognitive impairment, take daily daytime naps Increased average of 11 minutes per year.
The The rate of increase doubled After diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment for 24 minutes and Almost tripled For 68 minutes after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
In total, the Volunteers slept more than an hour a day They have a 40% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than those who sleep less than an hour a day.
In addition to, Participants who slept at least once a day They have a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who sleep less than once a day.
Although insomnia and poor nighttime sleep patterns are common among people with dementia, this study found that “ The link between long naps and dementia remained after the sleep adjustment.” “This indicates that the role of daytime naps is important in and of itself,” said Ling.
However, it is important to note that there is neither “sufficient evidence” nor “clear biological mechanism” to trace a causal relationship that “naps themselves cause cognitive aging”. It’s just a “sign” of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
a Scientific article Recently Posted in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
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