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Taking a nap throughout the day is a common habit among middle-aged and older Americans. While napping may seem like a harmless or even beneficial habit, new research indicates that shifts in how often older adults nap could provide clues about underlying health concerns and an increased mortality risk.
Although older adults are encouraged to get about eight hours of sleep each night, getting enough rest can become more challenging with age. Health conditions, medications, changes in energy levels, and shifts in daily routines may all contribute to increased daytime napping. Changes in napping habits may also reflect what is happening inside the body.
The study followed over 1,300 participants for as long as 19 years, tracking both how often and how long they napped. At the beginning of the study, participants wore wearable devices for 10 days to objectively measure their daytime sleep. Researchers assessed the duration, frequency, consistency, and timing of participants’ naps.
The researchers examined whether different napping patterns were linked to long-term health outcomes, including death from any cause. The analysis accounted for participants’ sleep at night, existing health conditions, and overall health at the start of the study, helping researchers determine whether napping offered additional clues about long-term health.
The findings showed that napping generally became longer, more frequent, and shifted earlier in the day with age. Older adults who increased their nap duration or frequency, particularly with morning naps, had poorer long-term health outcomes. The association was dose-related, with mortality risk rising by 13% for every additional hour spent napping and by approximately 7% for each extra nap taken per day.
If daytime napping becomes more frequent or lasts longer over time, it may be worth considering what is behind the change. A noticeable shift toward more daytime sleep, particularly earlier in the day, could be a sign that something else is affecting a person’s health. Persistent or increasing morning sleepiness may warrant further attention.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Objectively Measured Daytime Napping Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults
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