Key Takeaway:
- Longer or more frequent daytime naps in older adults are linked to a higher mortality risk.
- Excessive napping may signal underlying health issues, not cause them.
- Sudden changes in sleep habits should be discussed with a doctor for early detection.
Older adults who nap longer or more frequently during the day face a higher risk of death, according to findings from a Daytime Napping Study. The research suggests that excessive napping may indicate underlying health problems rather than simply providing harmless rest.
Researchers Track Sleep Patterns Over Two Decades
Researchers from Mass General Brigham and Rush University Medical Center followed more than 1,300 adults ages 56 and older for nearly twenty years, analyzing daytime sleep habits and health outcomes.
The Daytime Napping Study, published this week in JAMA Network Open, found that each additional hour of daytime napping was associated with about a 13% higher risk of death. It also revealed that each extra nap per day was linked to roughly a 7% increase in mortality risk.
Morning naps showed stronger associations with mortality compared with afternoon naps, researchers reported.
Lead researcher Chenlu Gao said the findings highlight the importance of monitoring changes in sleep behavior over time.
“It is important to note that this is correlation, not causation,” Gao said. “Changes in nap patterns may serve as an early indicator of declining health.”
Researchers emphasized that napping itself is not inherently harmful.
Excessive Naps May Reflect Hidden Health Problems
Experts say longer or increasingly frequent naps later in life may signal underlying medical conditions rather than cause health decline.
Possible explanations include poor nighttime sleep, neurological changes, cardiovascular disease, or other chronic illnesses. Increased fatigue during the day can reflect disruptions in sleep quality or emerging health concerns.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep medicine specialist not involved in the research, said older adults should pay attention to sudden shifts in daily sleep routines.
“If someone who rarely naps begins sleeping frequently during the day, that could indicate an underlying issue worth evaluating,” Dasgupta said.
Between 20% and 60% of older adults report taking daytime naps, according to researchers. Occasional naps remain common and are often considered beneficial for energy and cognitive performance.
Doctors Urge Awareness, Not Alarm
Researchers stress that the Daytime Napping Study does not suggest people should stop napping altogether. Instead, experts recommend viewing excessive daytime sleep as a potential warning sign.
Health professionals advise older adults and caregivers to monitor patterns such as longer nap duration, increased frequency, or new morning naps.
Dr. Phyllis Zee, a sleep researcher at Northwestern University who reviewed the findings, said tracking sleep habits could help doctors identify health problems earlier.
“Sleep changes are often among the first signals that something in the body is changing,” Zee said. “Discussing these shifts with a physician may allow earlier diagnosis and intervention.”
The authors of the Daytime Napping Study said future research will examine whether managing sleep disorders or underlying conditions can reduce health risks associated with excessive daytime sleep.
For now, experts say moderation remains key. Occasional rest is normal, but persistent increases in daytime napping may warrant medical attention.
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