Be careful about daytime sleep! Frequent and short-term naps may be a sign of dementia

While falling asleep on the couch in the afternoon may seem like an innocent escape from the day, new research shows that it could be an important warning sign of worsening cognitive health. A new study conducted in the USA on individuals aged 65 and over revealed that frequent, involuntary and short-term daytime sleepiness is directly related to the risk of dementia and memory problems.

995 PEOPLE WERE EXAMINED DURING THE 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP PERIOD

Within the scope of the research published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, data from the National Health and Aging Trends Survey in the USA were analyzed. The study included 995 people aged 65 and over who were not initially diagnosed with dementia. During the period when the participants were followed for a median of 5 years, it was determined that 417 people, corresponding to 41.9 percent, developed possible or probable dementia.

Even when external factors such as age, gender, education, smoking, body mass index and chronic health problems were taken into account, the rate of dementia was significantly higher in those who slept frequently during the day.

FREQUENT AND INVOLVED SLEEPS INCREASE THE RISK

According to research findings, people who slept during the day every day or most days of the week had a 48 percent higher rate of dementia compared to those who rarely or never slept. This rate increased by 39 percent in involuntary daytime sleepiness.

While it was determined that sleep duration also affected the risk, it was noted that the rate of dementia was 40 percent higher in those who slept 30 minutes or less during the day. Experts emphasize that this situation also triggers the risk of developing memory impairment during the follow-up period.

IS DAYTIME SLEEP A CAUSE OR A SYMPTOM OF DEMENTIA?

Experts point out that the relationship between daytime sleepiness and dementia is quite complex. While neurological changes in the brain negatively affect cognitive functions, they can also increase people's need to sleep during the day. Therefore, increased daytime sleepiness in elderly individuals is considered a symptom of decline in brain health.

On the other hand, it is also stated that daytime sleepiness may result from an effort to compensate for sleep problems experienced at night. Researchers state that this relationship is a signal that should be taken into consideration in terms of early diagnosis and risk detection, rather than establishing a clear causal link.