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The benefits of taking an afternoon nap

May 29, 2021

Do you feel guilty when taking an afternoon snooze? Don’t. Research shows napping can benefit our cognitive function – Here’s how.

Napping helps to clean up waste products in the brain. Short naps help to improve attention span and increase energy, while longer naps are more restorative and beneficial for learning. This is because the brain enters different stages of sleep. During REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the brain can strengthen newly developed connections and during non-REM sleep the brain can consolidate memories. Therefore, the length of your afternoon snooze matters!

So what is the ideal duration of a nap? Research shows that a 30-90 minute nap is the best duration to reap cognitive benefits.

A recent study from China found a link between regular afternoon napping and better cognitive function in older adults. The study measured the cognitive skills of 2,200 adults (aged 70 and older) and found that those who regularly napped were less likely to have impairments to their learning and memory – regardless of age or education level.

The CPAP Clinic has a network of 40 clinics nationwide, and works in partnership with Centurion Healthcare, a Respiratory & Sleep Specialist clinic group to provide comprehensive sleep care including:

  1. Respiratory & Sleep Specialist consultation – face-to-face and telehealth available
  2. Sleep studies – in-lab, home and contactless sleep studies available. Bulk billing available for specialist telehealth consultations as well as sleep studies. Medicare criteria apply. Call 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au for more information.