Longevity & Aging

Longer and More Frequent Daytime Naps Linked to Higher Mortality Risk in Older Adults

A study tracking over 1,300 older adults found that longer and more frequent daytime naps are associated with higher mortality risk. Using wrist actigraphy for up to 14 days, researchers found each extra hour of napping corresponded to aging roughly 1.1 years in mortality risk, and each additional daily nap added about 0.6 years of risk. Morning naps carried the highest risk, equivalent to being 2.5 years older, possibly signaling disrupted circadian rhythms. Notably, these associations largely disappeared in cognitively healthy individuals, suggesting excessive napping may be a marker of underlying health decline rather than a direct cause of death.