For years, people have romanticized the idea of taking daytime naps, especially when it is raining or during a gloomy fall day, but what was unknown is that older adults who take frequent daytime naps, especially in the morning, may face a greater risk of serious health problems and even earlier death, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.
The study, titled Objectively Measured Daytime Napping Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults, adds concerns as it is believed that excessive napping may be more than a harmless habit. Researchers revealed that long, frequent naps could be an important warning sign for deeper health issues, including neurological decline, cardiovascular disease, and chronic inflammation.
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According to the findings, which were published on April 20, a total of 1,338 adults aged 56 and older were tracked over 19 years by using wearable devices to objectively measure sleep behavior. Researchers analyzed when participants napped, how often they napped, and how long those naps lasted.
Why Frequent Naps Could Signal Bigger Health Problems
Researchers found that adults who took longer and more frequent daytime naps between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. had higher mortality rates compared with those who napped less. Morning nappers, in particular, appeared to face elevated risks, because experts say morning sleepiness may point to underlying health disruptions already in motion.
According to the study, excessive daytime napping may be linked to circadian rhythm misalignment and fragmented nighttime sleep, both of which can put stress on the body. These disruptions may contribute to “rising blood pressure, increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and impaired blood vessel function.”
Researchers also suggested that systemic inflammation has long been associated with heart disease and cognitive decline; therefore, frequent daytime sleep could potentially reflect those processes.
© Getty Images/Westend61In simple terms, prolonged napping may be acting as a red flag that something else is happening beneath the surface.
Morning Naps Raised Particular Concern
One of the more striking findings involved the timing of naps. Adults who took a nap earlier in the day, rather than in the afternoon, may be tied to more significant underlying health conditions, as morning napping has sometimes been associated with disrupted nighttime sleep, poor sleep quality, early neurodegenerative changes, or fatigue related to cardiovascular strain.
Short naps can still be restorative, and many sleep experts consider a brief midday nap, often around 20 to 30 minutes, beneficial for alertness and cognitive function, so it is important to highlight that the concern raised in this research centers on excessive, frequent, or poorly timed naps.
© Getty ImagesFor older adults who find themselves needing long or repeated naps, it may be worth discussing sleep patterns with a physician rather than dismissing them as normal aging.
