2023-06-22 15:30:53
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Fancy a longer lunch break? Then show this article to the boss. Who knows, you might get paid siestas soon. Because according to science, taking a nap during the day is very beneficial for the brain. And so also for your work.
Even if you always go to bed at the ideal time, your eyelids may already be drooping by noon. But unfortunately we do not live in Spain. Colleagues will give you a strange look when you decide to take a short nap at the office.
Unless, of course, you show those emptyheads this brand new study. “Association between daytime napping and greater total brain volume.”
Napping during the day is good for the brain
A larger brain volume is associated with a lower risk of dementia and other degenerative diseases. And research from the prestigious University College London found a small but significant increase in this brain volume in people who often nap during the day.
In fact, the average difference in brain volume between the sleepers and non-sleepers studied equates to an aging of 2.5 to 6.5 years. People who never close their eyes spontaneously during the day generally not only age faster, they are also more likely to develop brain disorders later on.
Moreover, it was not a small sample. The British researchers used a technique called Mendelian randomization to analyze DNA samples and brain scans from 35,080 people aged between 40 and 69.
The scientists first looked at parts of the genetic code linked to regular napping. They then compared the brain health of people who napped frequently with the cognition of people who never napped. The results showed that a short nap of 5 to 15 minutes after noon can make a big difference in brain health, especially later in life.
However, the guinea pigs themselves entered how often they took a nap during the day. In addition, the researchers have not collected any information about the duration of the nap, which can of course also have an influence. But hey, your boss doesn’t need to know that.
Check out the full research Sleep Healthwhere the results were published this week.
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Why you should take a nap during the day, according to science
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