Why you should take naps.
Research conducted by scientists has revealed that taking regular naps during the day can help improve your brain health and also prevent the risk of dementia.
The habit of taking short naps during the day is quite unpopular, especially for those who work actively during the day. However, sleep experts have confirmed that regular naps don’t only improve your concentration, but also help you to prevent certain cognitive-related diseases.
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Napping slows down the rate at which your brain shrinks as you age which helps to prevent dementia. This is supported by research conducted at the University College London where the brains of individuals who take regular naps were compared to that of subjects who don’t take naps.
It was discovered that those who take short naps during the day had brain sizes five cubic centimeters larger on average than those who didn’t- the equivalent of delaying aging in the brain by three to six years. Read More Here: Regular napping linked to larger brain volume
Taking regular naps doesn’t just help prevent dementia, it also has other health benefits such as helping to lower your blood pressure and reducing your chances of developing a stroke and other neurological diseases.
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Another research conducted compared the cognitive abilities of two sets of people- Those who took naps and does who didn’t. The two groups were made to take a test. The results of the test revealed that those who had naps right before the test performed much better than those who didn’t.
Sleep expert at Silentnight, Hannah Shore has also explained the optimal time to take naps is between noon and 3 pm and should be done in dim lit room so your brain doesn’t interpret it as bedtime.
The ideal duration for napping should be between 20 to 30 minutes.
SUMMARY
- Research conducted by scientists indicates that taking regular naps during the day can improve brain health and reduce the risk of dementia.
- Napping slows down the rate of brain shrinkage as you age, leading to larger brain volume in individuals who take regular naps compared to those who don’t. This effect can delay aging in the brain by three to six years.
- Regular naps also offer other health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of strokes and other neurological diseases.
- A study comparing cognitive abilities between individuals who took naps and those who didn’t found that those who napped performed better on a test.
- The optimal time for napping is between noon and 3 pm, and the ideal duration should be between 20 to 30 minutes. Naps should be taken in a dimly lit room to avoid confusing the brain with bedtime.