Apparently, researchers agree that a light nap during the day is good for your brain! A study published in the journal Sleep Health found that a quick nap is associated with a larger brain volume over the years.
As we age, our brains decrease in size and weight by about 5% after each decade. Especially after the age of 40, the process is a little faster.
Daytime sleep appears to influence changes in cognitive function that come with aging, according to the National Institutes of Health.
To be precise, those who squinted during the day had a difference of 2.6 to 6.5 years in brain aging than those who spent the day without sleep.
"Our findings show that for some people, short naps help maintain brain health as we age," said Dr. Victoria Garfield, author of this study.
Researchers from University College London and the University of the Republic of Uruguay analyzed health outcomes and cognitive function between people who have a genetic tendency to sleep during the day and those who do not.
Certain behaviors, environments, or factors were studied by looking at genetic differences and how they affect behavior or the environment in people's bodies. The researcher explained that this research managed to find a "casual association" proving that napping directly led to a larger brain volume.
Experts have even claimed that napping during the day can make you a better employee and a better parent.
This research comes shortly after many people are taking the issue of daytime sleep seriously, while Google searches for sleep have increased to a maximum in the past year.
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Source: New York Post
