Taking a nap during the day is good for preventing brain shrinkage, research shows
manchestereveningnews.co.ukTaking a nap during the day can have huge health benefits for our brain, according to a new study. Researchers say a brief snooze can help keep the brain bigger as it ages - a marker of good brain health linked to a lower risk of dementia and other diseases.
Napping for as little as 30 minutes each day can prevent brain shrinkage, a process that occurs with age. Brain shrinkage is accelerated in people with cognitive problems and neurodegenerative diseases, with some research suggesting this may be related to sleep problems. READ MORE: McDonald’s shakes up Summer menu with £2.99 money saving deal and new additions The study, conducted by the University College London, showed nappers' brains were 15 cubic centimetres (0.9 cubic inches) larger.
This is the equivalent to delaying ageing in the brain by between three and six years. The research, published in the journal Sleep Health, analysed data from people aged 40 to 69.
Using a technique called Mendelian randomisation, they looked at 97 snippets of DNA thought to determine people’s likelihood of habitual napping.
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