{"id":5943,"date":"2023-07-25T04:29:43","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T21:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=5943"},"modified":"2023-07-25T04:29:43","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T21:29:43","slug":"study-shows-napping-is-good-for-your-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=5943","title":{"rendered":"Study Shows Napping Is Good for Your Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">W<\/span>hen you consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/exercises-for-the-brain\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/exercises-for-the-brain\/\">practices that contribute to brain health<\/a>, you may first reach for brainy activities that stimulate the mind. But it turns out, giving the brain a break may be just as important\u2026 and not just at night. Though <a href=\"https:\/\/gpsych.bmj.com\/content\/34\/1\/e100361\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/gpsych.bmj.com\/content\/34\/1\/e100361\">afternoon napping and cognitive function<\/a> have long been <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21075238\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21075238\/\">positively correlated<\/a>, researchers hadn\u2019t determined if people who nap just tend to have better brain health (possibly for other related reasons), or if napping is actually good for your brain\u2014until now. A new study published in June shows that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleephealthjournal.org\/article\/S2352-7218(23)00089-X\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sleephealthjournal.org\/article\/S2352-7218(23)00089-X\/fulltext\">the link between daytime napping and improved cognition<\/a> is likely a causal one.<\/div>\n<p>To uncover this link, the researchers culled data from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukbiobank.ac.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ukbiobank.ac.uk\/\">UK Biobank<\/a> (which has input from nearly 379,000 people) and identified the people who had particular snippets of DNA known to predispose a person to nap on the regular. (By using genetics, they could avoid the issue of confounding lifestyle factors that might affect the connection between napping and cognition.) Then, they analyzed brain data from the Biobank set (including brain MRI scans) for the people who had the napping genes versus those who didn\u2019t\u2014and they found that the folks predetermined to nap had significantly <em>larger<\/em> brains.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/is-napping-good-for-your-brain\/\" current-title=\"Good News Alert: Napping Can Boost Your Brain Function\" current-image=\"GettyImages-1387048257-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-01-24\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/is-napping-good-for-your-brain\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/is-napping-good-for-your-brain\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/is-napping-good-for-your-brain\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Napping may provide a defense against neurodegeneration<\/h2>\n<p>This connection between habitual napping and brain size represents a key finding because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2596698\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2596698\/\">the volume of the brain shrinks as we age<\/a>, impacting memory performance and cognitive function (and that process happens at a faster clip in folks with cognitive decline or neurodegenerative disease). \u201cBased on our findings, we hypothesize that napping regularly provides some protection against neurodegeneration by compensating for poor sleep,\u201d says lead author on the study and PhD candidate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Valentina-Paz-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Valentina-Paz-4\">Valentina Paz, MSc<\/a>, a researcher at Uruguay&#8217;s University of the Republic and University College London.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe hypothesize that napping regularly provides some protection against neurodegeneration by compensating for poor sleep.\u201d \u2014Valentina Paz, MSc, researcher at University of the Republic, Uruguay<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>More broadly, this finding suggests that taking regular naps may help us better retain our brain size as we age\u2014and stave off cognitive decline as a result. \u201cBrain volume measures have been used as markers of neurodegeneration, so a larger brain volume implies less degeneration,\u201d says Paz. \u201cUnderstanding this difference in brain size [in people who nap versus those who don&#8217;t] has important clinical implications for mitigating age-related cognitive impairments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, Paz and her co-researchers did<em> not<\/em> find a similar tie between a person\u2019s genetic likelihood for habitual napping and other elements of brain health, like the size of the hippocampus (which is an important area for memory), reaction time, and visual memory.<\/p>\n<p>For that reason, Paz says the link between frequent daytime napping and brain health is still being untangled. It\u2019s also important to note that this study didn\u2019t take into account factors like the presence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-is-sleep-inertia\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-is-sleep-inertia\/\">sleep inertia<\/a>, the quality of the prior sleep period, or the length and timing of naps\u2014all of which could influence whether a nap has a positive, negative, or null effect on cognition.<\/p>\n<p>With regard to brain volume, though, it&#8217;s worth reiterating that this finding is significant. Considering the typical rate at which we tend to lose brain volume with age, the study researchers were able to calculate that the difference they identified in brain volume between the habitual nappers and the non-nappers was equivalent to roughly 2.6 to 6.5 years of aging. \u201cThis difference approximately equates to the difference in brain volume observed between individuals with normal cognitive function and those exhibiting mild cognitive impairment,\u201d says Paz.<\/p>\n<p>Such a potential brain boost from napping falls in line with previous research indicating that napping can enhance certain elements of cognition, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6335868\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6335868\/\">particularly in people who are learning new information<\/a>, says neurologist <a href=\"https:\/\/sunnybrook.ca\/research\/team\/member.asp?m=121&amp;page=529\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/sunnybrook.ca\/research\/team\/member.asp?m=121&amp;page=529\">Brian Murray, MD<\/a>. &#8220;There is something about sleep that helps consolidate and organize the brain,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<h2>How to optimize your naps for cognitive health<\/h2>\n<p>In the spirit of boosting the beneficial effects of daytime rest on the brain, Paz says it\u2019s important to consider not just <em>that<\/em> you nap but <em>how<\/em> you nap.<\/p>\n<p>In general, it\u2019s best not to overdo it. Paz advises a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/power-nap-benefits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/power-nap-benefits\/\">short nap of five to 15 minutes (and no more than 30 minutes max) in length<\/a>; this way, you won&#8217;t risk dipping into the deeper sleep stages, from which it&#8217;ll be tougher to wake up.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also smart to nap sometime in the early afternoon, says Paz, ideally around 2 or 3 p.m. (if you typically go to bed around 10 or 11 p.m.). Previous research has found that this \u201cpost-lunch dip period\u201d is the optimal time to take a nap, says Paz, in order to overcome the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/afternoon-slump-napper-chronotype\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/afternoon-slump-napper-chronotype\/\">all-too-common slump in alertness and performance around midday<\/a>. Also, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/napping-before-bed\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/napping-before-bed\/\">avoiding a nap too late in the day<\/a> ensures you won&#8217;t use up some of your sleep drive and potentially\u00a0interfere with your ability to fall asleep that night.<\/p>\n<p>For the best quality nap, Paz prescribes a comfortable environment in which light, temperature, and noise are taken into consideration. In particular, it&#8217;s best to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-nap\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-nap\/\">choose a quiet, cool, and dark room<\/a> for a nap; if your space is loud, you can turn on some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/white-pink-brown-noise\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/white-pink-brown-noise\/\">white noise to mask external sounds<\/a>, and if it&#8217;s bright, try slipping on an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/manta-sleep-mask-review\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/manta-sleep-mask-review\/\">eye mask for darkness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Further details on nailing the ideal nap for health purposes will require additional research, says Paz. But in the meantime, the new study represents a big step forward in linking habitual napping with larger total brain volume and in turn, a healthier brain. \u201cUsing different datasets and methodologies, we will continue investigating the association between napping and overall health,\u201d says Paz, who is determined to shed more light on the &#8220;gray area&#8221; of our gray matter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you consider practices that contribute to brain health, you may first reach for brainy activities that stimulate the mind. But it turns out, giving the brain a break may be just as important\u2026 and not just at night. Though afternoon napping and cognitive function have long been positively correlated, researchers hadn\u2019t determined if people &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}