Study links daily napping to higher dementia risk
A study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found that daily napping is associated with a 48% increased risk of dementia in people over 65. The findings were published in The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences in October 2026.Study uses national health survey data
The analysis is based on the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a long-term survey of thousands of Americans over 65 who are covered by Medicare. Researchers collected data from 995 participants in 2013 about their napping habits and followed them until 2023.Dementia identified through screening
None of the participants had formal clinical exams. Instead, dementia was identified using a screening method that included reports from family members, caregiver questionnaires, and cognitive tests assessing memory, orientation, and planning. By the end of the study, 42% of the participants had developed possible or probable dementia.Napping habits classified by researchers
The researchers categorized napping habits based on frequency, whether the naps were voluntary or involuntary, and duration over 30 minutes. Even after adjusting for factors like age, chronic illness, and the quality of nighttime sleep, the link between daily napping and dementia remained. Involuntary napping showed a 39% increased risk, while planned naps did not show a significant connection.
