Daytime napping is common among older adults. Many people enjoy a short nap to restore energy, improve alertness, or compensate for poor nighttime sleep. However, new research suggests that certain nap habits in later life may be associated with a higher risk of death from any cause.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open examined whether objectively measured daytime napping patterns were linked to long-term mortality in adults aged 56 years and older. Researchers found that longer naps, more frequent naps, and a tendency to nap in the morning were associated with increased all-cause mortality risk.
These findings do not mean that naps are dangerous. Instead, they suggest that some nap behaviors may serve as warning signs of underlying health issues.
Researchers used data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a long-running health study involving community-dwelling older adults in northern Illinois.
The final analysis included 1,338 participants with an average age of 81.4 years. Participants wore wrist-based activity monitors that tracked movement and sleep patterns for up to 14 days. This technology, called actigraphy, allowed researchers to measure daytime naps more accurately than self-reported sleep diaries.
Participants were followed for as long as 19 years, with an average follow-up of 8.3 years.
The researchers focused on four daytime nap characteristics:
The study found that every additional hour of daytime napping was associated with a 13% higher risk of death after adjusting for age, health conditions, physical activity, and nighttime sleep factors.
This suggests that regularly taking long naps may be a marker of declining health in older adults.
Each extra daily nap was associated with a 7% higher mortality risk.
This means that not only nap length, but also how often someone naps during the day, may matter.
Participants who most often napped in the morning had a 30% higher mortality risk compared with those who usually napped in the early afternoon.
Researchers believe this may be because morning sleepiness can signal disrupted sleep cycles, illness, fatigue, or circadian rhythm problems.
Day-to-day variability in nap duration was not significantly associated with mortality after full statistical adjustments.
So, changing nap length from one day to another did not appear to independently raise risk.
The study did not prove that naps cause death. Instead, excessive napping may reflect hidden health problems.
Possible explanations include:
People who sleep badly at night may nap more during the day. Sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea can increase fatigue and affect long-term health.
Previous research has linked excessive daytime sleepiness and long naps with:
These conditions can increase mortality risk.
Conditions such as diabetes, chronic pain, respiratory disease, depression, and neurodegenerative disorders can increase fatigue and the need for naps.
Morning naps may indicate the body’s internal clock is out of sync, which can affect hormones, metabolism, and sleep quality.
No. A short daytime nap can still be beneficial for many people.
Brief naps may help with:
The concern in this study was mainly around longer, frequent, and morning naps, especially when those habits develop suddenly or increase over time.
Sleep experts often recommend:
Long naps of more than one hour may leave some people groggy and may signal poor overnight sleep.
If daytime napping becomes more frequent or excessive, it may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Consider seeking evaluation if someone experiences:
Tracking sleep with a wearable device or sleep diary may also help identify patterns.
As wearable devices become more common, doctors may eventually use nap patterns as an early screening tool for health decline.
Instead of seeing naps as harmless or irrelevant, clinicians may begin to view major changes in daytime sleep as a useful health signal, especially in older adults.
That could lead to earlier detection of:
Napping is a normal part of aging for many adults, but not all naps are equal. This new research suggests that longer naps, frequent naps, and morning naps may be associated with higher mortality risk in older adults.
The key message is not to fear naps, but to pay attention to changing sleep patterns. In many cases, increased daytime sleepiness may be the body’s way of signaling that something else needs attention.
Short, intentional naps can still be healthy. But persistent or excessive daytime sleeping deserves a closer look.
Gao C, Cai R, Zheng X, et al. Objectively Measured Daytime Napping Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults. JAMA Network Open. Published April 20, 2026. 2026;9(4):e267938. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.7938
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding sleep concerns or health conditions.
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