Jan 27, 2021 15:05:00

Research results show that taking regular afternoon naps improves cognitive ability

Some researchers claim that naps are good for the body, and some studies have argued that naps actually

lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and reduce the risk of stroke. I will. Following this, a new research team at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China published a research paper stating that 'taking a nap improves the cognitive ability of the elderly.'

Relationship between afternoon napping and cognitive function in the aging Chinese population | General Psychiatry
https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/34/1/e100361

Study of More Than 2,000 People Links Afternoon Naps to Better Mental Agility
https://www.sciencealert.com/afternoon-naps-may-boost-your-brain-s-mental-agility-study-suggests

The research team measured 2214 subjects over the age of 60 in China with tests to measure various cognitive abilities, from problem-solving ability to sustained concentration, and compared the results between those who took a nap and those who did not. Did.

Of the 2214, 1534 said they often take a nap in the afternoon, while 680 said they do not have a habit of taking a nap. The analysis found that those who answered that they regularly take a nap of 5 minutes or more and less than 2 hours during the afternoon hours have significantly higher cognitive performance scores.

'Some previous studies have shown that taking a nap in the afternoon improves cognitive function in the elderly, while others show the opposite. The results of this experiment support the former. It has been suggested that older people have higher cognitive function as they take a nap. '

In addition, the research team measured the amount of triglyceride , triglyceride , found in the subject's blood. It turned out that those who took regular naps had higher triglyceride levels than those who did not. While naps are often considered a healthy lifestyle, the researchers point out that they may actually be associated with metabolic syndrome.

At the same time, the research team reports that 'people who live a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to get into the habit of taking a nap than those who don't.'

However, the mechanism behind the relationship between naps and triglyceride content in the blood has not been elucidated, and the research team says that it is a future research topic.