Napping in Elders Might Not Affect Quantity or Quality of Nighttime Sleep

Older adults with insomnia often are advised to avoid naps, particularly late in the day, but evidence that following this advice improves quantity or quality of nighttime sleep is inconsistent. In two new studies, researchers further challenge this recommendation.

In the first study, 414 community-dwelling older adults (age range, 70–89) were interviewed and completed standardized questionnaires about their sleep behaviors during the preceding month. More than half (54%) of subjects reported napping at least once weekly; average nap times were 55 minutes daily. Nappers were more likely than non-nappers to be male and to have diabetes. Nappers and non-nappers had similar nighttime sleep parameters (sleep duration, sleep-onset latency, and sl…