A recent study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between afternoon napping and mental agility. Upon a thorough examination, researchers suggested that regular afternoon naps may result in better locational awareness, verbal fluency, and working memory.
In the research, 2214 ostensibly healthy people aged at least 60 were examined and they were the residents in several large cities around China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian. Of the total, 1534 took a regular afternoon nap, while 680 didn’t. All participants underwent a series of health checks and cognitive assessments, including the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) to check for dementia.
The results exhibited notable differences in cognitive function and blood lipids were examined between the napping and the non-napping groups. Afternoon napping resulted in better cognitive function, including adjustment, language, and memory. Participants with the habit of afternoon napping also showed a higher level of triglyceride than the non-napping subjects. Thus, afternoon napping was related to better cognitive function among the Chinese aging population.
To Know More, You May Refer To:
Cai, Han & Su, Ning and Li, Wei & Li, Xia and Xiao, Shifu and Sun, Lin. (2021). Relationship between afternoon napping and cognitive function in the ageing Chinese population. General Psychiatry. 34. e100361. 10.1136/gpsych-2020-100361.
