Daytime Nap Linked to Increased Chance of Dangerous Disorder

(KMDL-FM) In the day-to-day calamity that is life, sometimes a brief respite during the day can be the salvation that makes the difference between completion and incarceration. The daytime nap, it was hated as a child, envied as an adult, and deemed dangerous if the result of a new study indicate a correlation they seem to be suggesting.

Man sleeping at desk with coffee and laptop

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University looked at a ten-year sample size of 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries. The study, at least this portion of it, focused on sleep habits and any links between those habits and the onset of dementia.

What Did The Study Discover About Daytime Napping and Dementia Risks?

The study looked at outcomes experienced by those who did not nap during the day and those who experienced unplanned, unintentional naps, and naps under 30 minutes. If I might editorialize for a moment, I think that last group is all of us. I think the first group is all of us who don't nap because we'd be "relieved of our positions at work".

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But I should remind you, and myself, that this is a study of older individuals where the work scenario may not even apply. The study, in layman's terms, which I am not sure I even qualify for that distinction, appears to show a higher risk of developing dementia if you do nap compared to those who don't.

an open book with a stethoscope on top of it

The study, which is presented in such a way that regular consumers, not just medical professionals, can comprehend, did suggest a connection between planned and unplanned napping. The study also suggested that the "napping behavior" does seem to change into a consistent pattern before any cognitive impairment is noted.

No, if you take naps, that doesn't mean you have been diagnosed with anything. However, if you notice or have noticed these kinds of behavior changes in yourself or a loved one, it might be one more thing to make a note of and bring to the next doctor's visit.

Does Working Offshore Oilfield Shifts Increase the Risk of Dementia?

In the case of Louisiana, I would love to see studies of how shift work, as in what they do in the oilfield, affects sleep patterns. Certainly, the drastic changes from a 7 on and 7 off or a 14 on and 14 off schedule would seem to be disruptive to sleep patterns over time.

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Louisiana's population is getting older. That means the care of older parents and grandparents will become something that families have to consider. It is always better to discover healthcare situations earlier than later. But remember, we are not medical professionals. Please use this information as a catalyst to raise questions and find answers via your own personal healthcare team.