An afternoon nap helps the brain age

Afternoon sleep is a habit for millions of people. Science has always been quite divided on this subject, between those who consider it a waste of time and those who consider it essential. Recent research seems to have resolved any doubts, with an afternoon nap actually being more beneficial than we can imagine.

Science: the study

The study conducted by researchers from University College to London Based onRepublic University in UruguayExplains how snoozing protects the brain from neurodegeneration. This all stems from an assumption, that people’s brains shrink much faster in people with cognitive problems or mental illness, and as many researches have shown, this can be linked to sleep disorders.

Starting with this, the researchers used data fromUK Biobank, which collects data from 500,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69. Of those, the scientists selected 35,000 people trying to see if all of the genetic variants attributed to snoozing were also linked to brain size and other factors.

The results showed that there is a close relationship between genetic predisposition to napping during the day and increased brain size. Simply put, a habitual sleep in the afternoon protects the brain from neurodegeneration, specifically less between 2.6 and 6.5 years of age.

Publication of the research in the journal Sleep health.

The importance of sleep

the doctor Victoria GarfieldThe study co-author told the scientific journal: “Routinely getting short naps during the day can help preserve brain volume, which is beneficial for preventing dementia.”. However, the doctor emphasized the many factors that lead to mental illness, and the results of which can vary from patient to patient.

Thanks to research, today we will see snooze in a completely different way and not a waste of time.

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