A recent study suggests that how often and how long older adults nap during the day may be more than just a lifestyle habit — it could be a health warning.
Research presented at SLEEP 2025, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, reveals that frequent, long, and irregular afternoon naps may be linked to an increased risk of mortality over an eight-year period.
Conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, the study tracked 86,565 adults, with an average age of 63, who followed typical daytime work routines. Using actigraphy — a method that records physical movement during rest periods — scientists analyzed sleep patterns between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., defining this as the potential napping window.
Lead author Chenlu Gao emphasized that the focus wasn’t just on whether participants napped, but how often, how long, and when. “These nap characteristics may serve as important indicators of underlying health risks,” Gao told Fox News Digital.
Over the eight-year follow-up, 6% of the participants passed away. The data showed a clear trend: longer naps taken between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. — particularly when inconsistent — correlated with a higher risk of death, even after accounting for lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol use, and nighttime sleep duration.
Sleep specialist Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, who was not involved in the study, cautioned against jumping to conclusions. “Naps are not necessarily harmful,” she said, “unless they’re being used to make up for poor-quality sleep at night.” Rohrscheib stressed the importance of getting 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night to maintain heart and metabolic health.
Despite these findings, researchers are clear: the study shows association, not causation. It’s still uncertain whether napping itself contributes to health decline or if it simply reflects pre-existing conditions such as chronic illness, systemic inflammation, or circadian rhythm disruptions.
Another limitation noted by the researchers is the reliance on movement-based data rather than brainwave analysis, meaning moments of still but awake rest may have been misclassified as sleep.
Still, the research could help raise awareness about subtle health signals. Gao suggests that tracking daytime sleep patterns could help detect emerging health problems early, allowing for timely interventions.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine currently recommends healthy adults limit naps to 20–30 minutes in the early afternoon to support optimal health.
As more studies explore the link between sleep habits and overall health, one thing remains clear: good sleep hygiene at night may be more beneficial than that extra nap in the afternoon.
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