Scientists have long known that a good night's sleep is important for brain health, but now there's great news for people who like to sneak in a quick nap . A new study found that daytime naps can be good for the brain.
Researchers from University College London studied data from 35,000 people in the UK between the ages of 40 and 69. They compared the brain scans of nappers and non-nappers and found some key differences. The results showed that those who liked to nap had larger brains than those who didn't. This meant that the brains of nappers aged more slowly.
Dr. Victoria Garfield, who worked on the study, said the research could help scientists understand how people can keep their brains healthy as they get older. She added,"I hope studies like this can help to change the bad impression people have about daytime napping. "
In Spain, the tradition of an afternoon nap, called a siesta, has been around for thousands of years. Most likely it was started to allow farmers time to cool off during the hottest part of the day. Today, office workers take a break and shops close from about 2 to 4 p. m. Because they rest during the day, people in Spain usually stay up until midnight. And in some parts of Italy, people take a post-lunch nap called a riposo. In China, a short nap in the office is used to help improve work performance in the afternoon. Some workplaces even have nap rooms where workers can go to rest.
