The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Daytime Naps

Taking short daytime naps may help protect the brain's health as it ages, according to a study by researchers at University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay. The study found that napping may help protect against brain shrinkage, which is accelerated in people with cognitive problems and neurodegenerative diseases. The researchers used data from the UK Biobank study to look at whether genetic variants associated with self-reported habitual daytime napping are linked to brain volume and other aspects of brain health. The study suggests that napping regularly provides some protection against neurodegeneration through compensating for poor sleep.