New research suggests that nap habits in older adults may do more than reflect tiredness. In a study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, nap patterns such as longer, more frequent, and morning naps were linked with higher mortality risk. The findings raise the possibility that a nap could be a warning sign of underlying or developing health problems.
What the study found
The study tracked 1, 338 adults age 56 and older using wrist-worn activity monitors beginning in 2005. Nearly all participants napped, and the group was predominantly white with an average age of 81 years. Researchers followed napping patterns and all-cause mortality over 19 years and found that each additional nap per day was tied to a 7 percent higher risk of death, while each extra hour of daytime napping was linked to a 13 percent higher risk.
Time of day also mattered. Morning nappers had a 30 percent higher mortality risk than afternoon nappers. The researchers say the pattern matters because it may help identify hidden problems earlier, rather than simply measuring whether someone naps at all.
Why nap patterns may matter
Chenlu Gao, a sleep scientist at Mass General Brigham and the study’s first author, said the work is among the first to connect objectively measured nap patterns with mortality. She said there is clinical value in tracking nap habits to catch health conditions early. The study also notes that excessive napping may signal underlying or developing health problems, rather than cause them directly.
Gao said frequent morning naps may point to sleep apnea, depression, chronic pain, heart disease, neurodegeneration, or circadian rhythm disruptions. The research also raises concern about possible links to Alzheimer’s disease, especially when morning and irregular naps are involved. Still, the study stresses that the relationship is correlation, not causation. That distinction matters: the data do not show that nap habits create the health problems, only that they travel alongside them.
Dr. Tony Cunningham, director of the Center for Sleep and Cognition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a professor at Harvard Medical School, said the findings are worth attention but should not be overread. He said there is nothing inherently bad about napping and that habitual napping can be normal, especially when it fits a person’s regular sleep routine. He added that a sudden shift in sleep and nap habits, especially when someone still feels unrefreshed, could be an alarm bell.
What this means for older adults
Researchers say the result does not mean naps are dangerous. Short naps can still be useful, and the broader relationship between nap and health remains understudied, especially in younger adults. But in older adults, a change toward longer, more frequent, or earlier-day naps may deserve attention, particularly if it comes with fatigue that does not improve. In that sense, nap may be less about rest alone and more about what the body is trying to communicate.
The next step, the researchers say, is better use of wearable daytime nap assessments to help predict health conditions and prevent further decline. For now, the study leaves a clear message: when nap patterns change, especially later in life, they may be worth watching closely.
