Could Nappers Have a Better Nights Rest? Could Nappers Have a Better Nights Rest?
American Geriatric Society

According to the Harvard News letter a recent study in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society stated that they monitored a group of healthy seniors ages 55 to 85 for two separate three-night, three day period to see what effects taking a nap during the day would have on their night time sleep. On non-nap days the individuals were allowed to rest but not sleep During nap days some of the individuals snoozed most of the two hours they were allowed to rest, while others in the study only slept as little as 12 minutes. When the results were calculated it was found that those who were able to nap scored better on tests of reasoning, reaction time and perception the next day.

The Journal of the American Geriatric Society found that those napping took about six minutes longer to fall asleep at night. Those who found it the hardest to sleep during the day were the same ones who had the nighttime sleep problem, calling into question the common belief that taking a day time nap effects nighttime sleep.