More Daytime Napping Linked to Health Risks in Older Adults, Study Finds

Excessive Daytime Napping Linked to Higher Mortality Risk in Older Adults, Study Finds

A comprehensive study from Mass General Brigham reveals that excessive daytime napping among older adults may be associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality, potentially serving as an early warning sign of underlying health decline.

The long-term research project tracked 1,338 older adults for up to 19 years, using wrist-worn devices to objectively measure the timing, frequency and duration of their daytime napping habits. Scientists then correlated these patterns with all-cause mortality rates to identify potential relationships.

Between 20% and 60% of older adults regularly take naps, according to researchers. While occasional short naps have previously been shown to be refreshing and potentially beneficial, this new study suggests that frequent or prolonged daytime napping may indicate more serious health concerns.

The findings revealed several concerning patterns. Morning naps were associated with approximately a 30% increase in mortality risk. Each additional hour spent napping daily correlated with about a 13% higher risk of death. Additionally, each extra nap taken per day raised the risk by roughly 7%.

“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 and leave out metrics like when and how regular those naps are,” explained lead author Chenlu Gao, PhD, an investigator in the department of anesthesiology at Mass General Brigham.

Dr. Gao noted that their research represents one of the first studies to demonstrate an association between objectively measured napping patterns and mortality. “This suggests there is immense clinical value in tracking napping patterns to catch health conditions early,” she added.

The relationship between napping and health has attracted increasing scientific attention in recent years. Previous research has connected excessive daytime sleepiness with conditions ranging from sleep apnea to early signs of dementia. The current study builds on this foundation by providing more objective measurements over a significantly longer timeframe than most prior investigations.

The researchers emphasized that their findings show correlation rather than causation. “Excessive napping is likely to indicate underlying disease, chronic conditions, sleep disturbances or circadian dysregulation,” Dr. Gao clarified. Rather than suggesting that napping itself causes health problems, the study points to napping patterns as potential indicators of existing or developing health issues.

The study does come with several limitations worth noting. As an observational study, it can identify associations but cannot establish that napping directly causes increased mortality. The research also did not account for specific contributing health conditions that participants may have had.

Additionally, the wrist-worn trackers measured movement patterns rather than brain activity, meaning that periods of rest without movement could potentially be misclassified as sleep in some cases. The study population was also limited to older, White adults from the Midwest, potentially limiting the applicability of findings to more diverse populations.

Nevertheless, the implications of this research could be significant for preventative healthcare. “Now that we know there is a strong correlation between napping patterns and mortality rates, we can make the case to implement wearable daytime nap assessments to predict health conditions and prevent further decline,” said Dr. Gao.

The study suggests that healthcare providers might consider incorporating questions about napping patterns during routine check-ups with older patients. Changes in napping behavior could potentially serve as an early indicator prompting further medical investigation.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and affiliated research programs, underscoring the importance of this area of study in the broader context of aging and public health.