Napping too much after 60? New study links long afternoon snoozes to higher death risk
naps
in the early afternoon, and found these were linked to a higher death risk over 8 years, as per the report by Fox News Digital.
Chenlu Gao, the study's lead author and a postdoc at Massachusetts General Hospital, said they wanted to understand more than just if people nap — but also how long, when, and how often. The study had 86,565 participants with an average age of 63. All had regular daytime jobs, as per reports.
Naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were most risky
These people wore devices that tracked their movement during sleep. It didn't check brain activity though. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Over the next 8 years, 5,189 people (6%) from the study died, as stated in the report by Fox News Digital.
People who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or took longer naps had higher chances of dying during those 8 years. The study also adjusted for other death risk factors like age, weight, smoking, alcohol, and night sleep time. Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a sleep expert from Wesper, New York, who wasn't part of the study, said naps are okay unless they're used to make up for bad night sleep, according to the report by Fox News Digital.
Long naps might mean you're not sleeping well at night
She also said adults need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep at night to stay healthy and avoid diseases like heart problems and diabetes. One issue with the study: it might have confused "quiet rest" with actual sleep, because the tracker only checks movement, not brain activity, as mentioned in the reports.
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Also, defining naps as between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. may have accidentally included some people's real sleep, not just naps. Too much daytime sleeping could be a sign of other health problems like chronic illness, body inflammation, or issues with the body's internal clock, as mentioned by Fox News Digital.
ALSO READ :
Michael Madsen, iconic 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 67
Dr. Rohrscheib said if someone needs a nap every day, they probably have bad night sleep or an underlying health issue. Chenlu Gao said more studies are needed to find out whether naps directly cause health issues, or if they're just a sign of something else.
But Gao also said watching people's napping patterns could help spot health problems early and let doctors step in faster. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says healthy naps should be under 20 to 30 minutes, and taken early in the afternoon, according to the reports.
Short "power naps" can help you feel more awake and full of energy. But if you nap for more than 30 minutes, you might feel tired or dizzy after waking up.
In short, sleeping too much during the day after age 60 can be risky. The time, length, and how often you nap may show signs about your health, according to Fox News Digital
FAQs
Q1. Is it dangerous for older adults to nap a lot during the day?
Yes, a new study says too much daytime napping after age 60 may raise the risk of death.
Q2. How long should a healthy nap be?
Experts say naps should be 20–30 minutes and taken early in the afternoon.
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Napping too much after 60? New study links long afternoon snoozes to higher death risk
A recent study suggests excessive daytime naps could be risky for older adults. Researchers presented the findings at SLEEP 2025 in Seattle. Longer, irregular naps between 11 AM and 3 PM are linked to higher mortality. Experts advise short 'power naps' of 20-30 minutes. They also suggest that frequent napping may indicate underlying health issues. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were most risky Long naps might mean you're not sleeping well at night Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs A new study says that older adults who nap too much during the day may have a higher risk of death. This study was presented at SLEEP 2025, a big sleep science event in Seattle, Washington. The research looked at daytime naps , especially longer and irregular naps in the early afternoon, and found these were linked to a higher death risk over 8 years, as per the report by Fox News Gao, the study's lead author and a postdoc at Massachusetts General Hospital, said they wanted to understand more than just if people nap — but also how long, when, and how often. The study had 86,565 participants with an average age of 63. All had regular daytime jobs, as per people wore devices that tracked their movement during sleep. It didn't check brain activity though. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Over the next 8 years, 5,189 people (6%) from the study died, as stated in the report by Fox News who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or took longer naps had higher chances of dying during those 8 years. The study also adjusted for other death risk factors like age, weight, smoking, alcohol, and night sleep time. Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a sleep expert from Wesper, New York, who wasn't part of the study, said naps are okay unless they're used to make up for bad night sleep, according to the report by Fox News also said adults need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep at night to stay healthy and avoid diseases like heart problems and diabetes. One issue with the study: it might have confused "quiet rest" with actual sleep, because the tracker only checks movement, not brain activity, as mentioned in the defining naps as between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. may have accidentally included some people's real sleep, not just naps. Too much daytime sleeping could be a sign of other health problems like chronic illness, body inflammation, or issues with the body's internal clock, as mentioned by Fox News Rohrscheib said if someone needs a nap every day, they probably have bad night sleep or an underlying health issue. Chenlu Gao said more studies are needed to find out whether naps directly cause health issues, or if they're just a sign of something Gao also said watching people's napping patterns could help spot health problems early and let doctors step in faster. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says healthy naps should be under 20 to 30 minutes, and taken early in the afternoon, according to the "power naps" can help you feel more awake and full of energy. But if you nap for more than 30 minutes, you might feel tired or dizzy after waking short, sleeping too much during the day after age 60 can be risky. The time, length, and how often you nap may show signs about your health, according to Fox News DigitalYes, a new study says too much daytime napping after age 60 may raise the risk of say naps should be 20–30 minutes and taken early in the afternoon.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Napping too much after 60? New study links long afternoon snoozes to higher death risk
A new study says that older adults who nap too much during the day may have a higher risk of death. This study was presented at SLEEP 2025, a big sleep science event in Seattle, Washington. The research looked at daytime naps, especially longer and irregular naps in the early afternoon, and found these were linked to a higher death risk over 8 years, as per the report by Fox News Digital. Chenlu Gao, the study's lead author and a postdoc at Massachusetts General Hospital, said they wanted to understand more than just if people nap — but also how long, when, and how often. The study had 86,565 participants with an average age of 63. All had regular daytime jobs, as per reports. Naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were most risky These people wore devices that tracked their movement during sleep. It didn't check brain activity though. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Over the next 8 years, 5,189 people (6%) from the study died, as stated in the report by Fox News Digital. People who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or took longer naps had higher chances of dying during those 8 years. The study also adjusted for other death risk factors like age, weight, smoking, alcohol, and night sleep time. Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a sleep expert from Wesper, New York, who wasn't part of the study, said naps are okay unless they're used to make up for bad night sleep, according to the report by Fox News Digital. Long naps might mean you're not sleeping well at night She also said adults need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep at night to stay healthy and avoid diseases like heart problems and diabetes. One issue with the study: it might have confused "quiet rest" with actual sleep, because the tracker only checks movement, not brain activity, as mentioned in the reports. Live Events Also, defining naps as between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. may have accidentally included some people's real sleep, not just naps. Too much daytime sleeping could be a sign of other health problems like chronic illness, body inflammation, or issues with the body's internal clock, as mentioned by Fox News Digital. ALSO READ : Michael Madsen, iconic 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 67 Dr. Rohrscheib said if someone needs a nap every day, they probably have bad night sleep or an underlying health issue. Chenlu Gao said more studies are needed to find out whether naps directly cause health issues, or if they're just a sign of something else. But Gao also said watching people's napping patterns could help spot health problems early and let doctors step in faster. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says healthy naps should be under 20 to 30 minutes, and taken early in the afternoon, according to the reports. Short "power naps" can help you feel more awake and full of energy. But if you nap for more than 30 minutes, you might feel tired or dizzy after waking up. In short, sleeping too much during the day after age 60 can be risky. The time, length, and how often you nap may show signs about your health, according to Fox News Digital FAQs Q1. Is it dangerous for older adults to nap a lot during the day? Yes, a new study says too much daytime napping after age 60 may raise the risk of death. Q2. How long should a healthy nap be? Experts say naps should be 20–30 minutes and taken early in the afternoon.
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Alzheimer's disease: Common herbs used in the kitchen could help slow down the progression of the disease, study finds
Imagine a common sprig of rosemary or sage gracing your roast chicken! Now, imagine that this modest herb may harbor a powerful ally in the fight against Alzheimer's. Yes, that's right. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recent breakthroughs spotlight a compound called carnosic acid, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powerhouse present in these kitchen staples. In its natural form, carnosic acid is unstable, yet innovative science has transformed it into a stabilized prodrug, diAcCA, capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and selectively activating in damaged, inflamed brain cells. While still in the pre-clinical stages, this discovery lights a spark of hope, hinting that everyday herbs might play a role in slowing, or even preventing, cognitive decline. What does the study say? In a recent study published in the journal Antioxidants, researchers from the Scripps Research Institute discovered a compound called carnosic acid – found in rosemary and sage – with impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They suggest that this compound could be beneficial for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. Researchers Piu Banerjee and Dr. Stuart Lipton shared their findings with Fox News Digital. They said, 'In this study, we observed that administering this drug to mice that had advanced Alzheimer's-like disease significantly improved the number of neurons, as well as the number of synapses or connections between the brain cells.' They also noted, 'It reduced inflammation caused by current anti-amyloid antibody therapies and improved learning and memory behavior in the mice that received the drug.' Banerjee explained that carnosic acid is a 'prodrug,' meaning it's inactive until it enters the body, where it gets activated by oxidative and inflammatory stress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'It specifically targets cells undergoing oxidative and inflammatory stress, without affecting healthy, normal brain cells,' she added. This makes it a safer option for treatment. The researchers believe carnosic acid might help reduce inflammation in aging brains. However, they urge caution. Courtney Kloske, director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer's Association, stressed that while studying mice helps us understand the disease, we really need to conduct human studies for a complete picture. 'These findings are intriguing, but more research is needed to see how these compounds affect people living with or at risk for Alzheimer's,' she advised. Banerjee and Lipton also noted that just cooking with sage and rosemary won't deliver the same anti-inflammatory benefits. "Critically, one cannot take sufficient herbs safely to produce the same effect as our new drug,' Banerjee explained. Kloske added, 'At this point, no one should consume these herbs or carnosic acid to prevent or treat Alzheimer's or other cognitive impairments.' Origins and key compound: Carnosic acid in rosemary and sage Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and sage have both storied reputations—ancient scholars hung rosemary in their robes to boost memory. Modern research confirms that carnosic acid, alongside carnosol and rosmarinic acid, provides potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that can reach the brain. These compounds activate the Nrf2 pathway, which spurs the production of endogenous enzymes that combat oxidative stress – one of Alzheimer's disease's key drivers. From kitchen to Lab: Creating diAcCA Carnosic acid's instability limited its therapeutic potential – until researchers at Scripps created diAcCA, an acetylated prodrug version. When consumed, diAcCA converts into its active form in the gut, crossing into the bloodstream and, crucially, the brain. In mouse models mimicking Alzheimer's (5xFAD strain), three months of diAcCA treatment led to restoration of memory and learning to near-normal levels, increased synaptic density in hippocampal circuits, and reduced neuroinflammation and diminished amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau accumulation. These results were consistent across behavioral tasks, histology, and biochemistry, with no observed toxicity. Mechanisms at work: A multi-front attack diAcCA (and its metabolite carnosic acid) appear to combat Alzheimer's via several reinforcing mechanisms: Antioxidant defense: Activates Nrf2, turning on protective genes that tackle oxidative stress and stabilize cell redox balance. Anti‑inflammatory action: Blocks cytokine release (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF‑α) and inhibits inflammasome activation, reducing harmful microglial activity. 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