Napping gives you a brain the size of a galaxy. Science is becoming more and more clear

There’s been a lot of debate about whether or not napping is healthy, and we’re increasingly certain that the answer depends on each of us, our genes, and our daily habits. Now thanks to an international team of researchers led by University College London (UCL) we know that Being prone to napping is associated with a bigger mind.

The new search It was based on an analysis of genes associated with a tendency to nap. The research team compared two groups of people, one with these genes in their DNA and the other without.

Notice the difference in the size of the brains It was equivalent to the volume loss occurring in this associated age range between 2.6 and 6.5 years. The researchers tested whether the same applied to other variables such as hippocampal size, reaction time and visual processing, however There are no differences important in these other cases.

“Our findings suggest that for some people, short naps during the day may be part of the puzzle that helps maintain brain health as we age.” explained in a press release Victoria Garfield is a member of the team responsible for the investigation.

the Study details It was recently published in an article in the journal Sleep health. The work was based on data obtained from 378,932 participants, ages 40 to 69, obtained through the UK Biobank.

The researchers took 97 DNA fragments from the participants as a reference. These parts have already been linked in Previous studies To lean into a daytime nap.

This data was merged with an MRI scan A subset of 35,080 UK Biobank participants. The analysis was performed following a statistical methodology known as Mendelian randomization. The purpose is to prevent third party factors from affecting the analyzed statistical relationships.

“By looking at genes that are configured at birth, Mendelian randomization avoids life-long distorting factors that might influence the association between napping and health-related variables. Our study suggests a causal relationship between regular napping and increased total brain size.” Valentina Paz explainedMember of the team responsible for the study.

the study It says nothing of the perpetual question: How long should naps last? Although, fortunately, we already know that optimum It lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. A study done a few years ago suggested that a 26-minute nap was the way to go.

What the researchers are referring to is the recommendation against leaving naps too late: the earlier we take them, the less likely they are to keep us awake or alter our nighttime sleep cycle in some way.

Members of the team responsible for the study also explained that although conclusions could have been drawn from the study, future research will be necessary to better understand this association. In this sense they indicated that the study participants They were of European descentTherefore, repeating the search with greater ethnic diversity may be appropriate.

Future research can also help us better understand why this relationship occurs. in general, Proper rest and sleep are vital for the functioning of our brainSo the association is not surprising at all.

An example of the relationship between sleep and the functioning of our brain is the fact that sleep deprivation has an effect on our cognitive and psychomotor performance that is comparable (or sometimes superior) to that caused by alcohol consumption.

Loss of brain volume is one of the effects of some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. in An article about ConversationThe study authors speculate that naps may help halt this development. “Our findings help explain the impact of daytime napping on brain health, which can limit cognitive decline with age.”

Siesta is a habit with more and more defenders in the international context. As the authors of this latest study explain, There is still a stigma around itBut research like this could help normalize a habit that is eventually deeply ingrained in our genes.

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Image | Adrian Swankar