Study: Napping linked to Alzheimer's disease

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

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So THIS is what has been happening to me. I nap about 4 hours through the day.

"According to representatives of Cleveland Clinic, new research suggests that older adults who consistently nap for over an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

"I have seen in many of my patients with Alzheimer's disease that they do start to sleep more and they do tend to nap more during the day as their cognition declines. But I was surprised to see that napping actually perhaps promoted the appearance and the emergence of Alzheimer's disease," said Dylan Wint, MD, neurologist for Cleveland Clinic.

Though Wint did not participate in the study, he emphasized the importance of not stressing over the findings. He noted that what really matters is why an individual is napping more frequently and longer than usual. Reasoning can range from a sleep disorder to simple boredom. In cases like that, Wint recommends taking up activities that will stimulate you throughout the day.

If you do need to nap, Wint recommends sticking to 45 minutes or less.

"It really is important to let your doctor know if something is not right about your sleep because sleep is a key component of maintaining health of the brain and the body," said Dr. Wint.

More research is needed to determine whether less napping could slow down cognitive age-related decline."

Study: Napping linked to Alzheimer's disease (msn.com)
 

Ah I sleep 3 hrs. in the afternoon wake up around 9 pm do some stuff around the house then go to bed around 12:30 am and wake up in the morning about 6. I've been doing this all my life and am not about to change now. Bring it on. Doctor shakes her head. She asked and I answered her question. Next time I'll just lie and say I go to bed at 10 pm and wake up at 6 am only because it's the way God meant us to sleep or something. Geez.
 
Paco Dennis said:
So THIS is what has been happening to me. I nap about 4 hours through the day.

"According to representatives of Cleveland Clinic, new research suggests that older adults who consistently nap for over an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

"I have seen in many of my patients with Alzheimer's disease that they do start to sleep more and they do tend to nap more during the day as their cognition declines. But I was surprised to see that napping actually perhaps promoted the appearance and the emergence of Alzheimer's disease," said Dylan Wint, MD, neurologist for Cleveland Clinic.

Though Wint did not participate in the study, he emphasized the importance of not stressing over the findings. He noted that what really matters is why an individual is napping more frequently and longer than usual. Reasoning can range from a sleep disorder to simple boredom. In cases like that, Wint recommends taking up activities that will stimulate you throughout the day.

If you do need to nap, Wint recommends sticking to 45 minutes or less.

"It really is important to let your doctor know if something is not right about your sleep because sleep is a key component of maintaining health of the brain and the body," said Dr. Wint.

More research is needed to determine whether less napping could slow down cognitive age-related decline."

Study: Napping linked to Alzheimer's disease (msn.com)
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I just hope that theory is wrong! For much of my life, I thrived on four hours sleep a night. Now, I'm taking four hour naps and sleeping much of the night. /-;
 

Georgiagranny said:
Good grief. If it's not something on a daily basis that's gonna cause cancer, it's something that's gonna make us all into doddering old fools, unable to feed or dress ourselves.

I decided a while back to stop reading all that cr@p:)
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So, "true"! Do what's "best for you"!! 🤗

P.S. 20 minutes (for me)..called "power nap"!..just enough to"refresh"!
 
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I've never napped on regular basis, only when sick.

When young, raising children, earning a living there was no time. Later, a nap meant that I couldn't fall asleep at bedtime. I do lounge and read some afternoons.
 
I fall asleep often when I'm reading books and I read a lot everyday. I also have a good nap in the afternoon. Does that study mean I am about to lose my mind? Mmmmm? So far, so good!

Right now, I am reading a book called "Healthy Heart for Life" by the Mayo Clinic. It says that a nap in the afternoon is very good for your heart and it too needs a rest. I'm getting the feeling that perhaps there are just too many studies about all sorts of things. It happens all the time since we don't produce anything much and just depend on the Chinese. The Chinese produce things that we need while we just produce "studies." Weird!
 
Paco Dennis said:
It is no wonder why we are skeptical of "expert" advice.
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Skepticism is reasonable. The doctor in the article wasn't part of the study and he's making an assertion. Most old people nap. Some old people develop Alzheimer's. What are the odds it will seem like there's a connection? I'm assuming these guys want more funding to do more studies, right?
 
Paco Dennis said:
According to representatives of Cleveland Clinic, new research suggests that older adults who consistently nap for over an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.----------More research is needed to determine whether less napping could slow down cognitive age-related decline.
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Well I can't speak to the authenticity of the research figures, but I can say this:
A nap will affect the amount of Deep sleep that I get, this I've monitored with my Fitbit. Deep sleep is the part of sleep where, when the brain is most inactive, the plaque build-up(contributes to Dementia) in the brain connections is removed by the Cerebrospinal fluid.
Deep Sleep
 
Nathan said:
Well I can't speak to the authenticity of the research figures, but I can say this:
A nap will affect the amount of Deep sleep that I get, this I've monitored with my Fitbit. Deep sleep is the part of sleep where, when the brain is most inactive, the plaque build-up(contributes to Dementia) in the brain connections is removed by the Cerebrospinal fluid.
Deep Sleep
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Here's an interesting tidbit - lots of elderly people take pain meds, anti-depressants, and other medications that make you sleepy, and most of the directions include taking a dose at bedtime. So, I wonder how good or not good that sleep is?
 
Murrmurr said:
Here's an interesting tidbit - lots of elderly people take pain meds, anti-depressants, and other medications that make you sleepy, and most of the directions include taking a dose at bedtime. So, I wonder how good or not good that sleep is?
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Medications of all types will trash the Deep sleep portion. So will alcoholic drinks. I don't take any OTC pain meds, not because I'm "brave" or tough, but because all (except Tylenol) will cause an increase in the skin wounding(purple bruising) on my hands and forearms. Of course, Tylenol does not work, at least not for me. My health care provider won't give me any prescription pain meds that could affect my central nervous system because they are scared to death of any potential liability(read: lawsuits). :rolleyes:

Anyway, a person's gotta sleep any way they can get it, if meds and naps is what it takes.
 
I think I read once that we should only nap for 30 to 45 minutes...something like that. My ideal nap used to be from 60 -90 minutes. Now I may nap longer but that's because I sometimes only get 3 or 4 hours of sleep at night and I feel it during the day. Sometimes I don't nap at all.

@Nathan...so sorry Tylenol doesn't work for you! Amazing the reaction other pain killers cause you! I use the generic (Kirkland brand) acetamenophin which even years after the expiration date, still works. Good thing because like you, my doctors said I can't take anything else.
 
I have trouble staying awake, right after Supper. I plop down in the recliner, turn on the local TV news, and within a minute or two, I'm snoozing. But then, my brains seems to recognize the theme song for Wheel of Fortune, and I wake up. That little 20 minute nap sure seems to make me feel good.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I think I read once that we should only nap for 30 to 45 minutes...something like that. My ideal nap used to be from 60 -90 minutes. Now I may nap longer but that's because I sometimes only get 3 or 4 hours of sleep at night and I feel it during the day. Sometimes I don't nap at all.

@Nathan...so sorry Tylenol doesn't work for you! Amazing the reaction other pain killers cause you! I use the generic (Kirkland brand) acetamenophin which even years after the expiration date, still works. Good thing because like you, my doctors said I can't take anything else.
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Oh I used to gulp down the Ibuprofens back in the 90s, had some kind of pinched nerve or ligament(?) in my neck. I was so dumb, I thought I was off scot-free from the "bleeding thing" of aspirin. I didn't realize 'til much later all OTC pain meds are NSAIDs, except for Tylenol.
 
Nathan said:
It's a popular trend these days to discount what experts say, I guess it makes people feel 'smarter'...to each their own.
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The experts never would say it affects everyone the same, only that a pattern has been noticed that people who behave this way might be more prone to developing condition, and it would be a small percentage of that. It's not cause & effect.
 
I don't nap routinely. If I'm feeling especially fatigued for some reason, I'll nap but I can't seem to limit it to a short power kind. Mine are usually 2-3 hours in duration.
 

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