Self-reported napping at round 3 and later possible/probable dementia in 995 NHATS participants
In 995 U.S. older adults without possible/probable dementia at round 3 (2013), frequent and unintentional self-reported napping were associated with higher hazard of later possible/probable dementia through round 13 (2023); this is an association, not proof of cause. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
995 participants without possible/probable dementia at round 3 (2013) were followed to round 13 (2023). [1]
Frequent nappers had 1.48 times the hazard of incident possible/probable dementia versus non-nappers (95% CI 1.14–1.94). [1]
The authors say napping may be a modifiable risk factor only if further evidence supports it. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 995 U.S. older adults free of possible/probable dementia at round 3 (2013) in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 1, 2026
Napping self-reported in 2013, dementia tracked to 2023
The study asked whether daytime napping is linked to dementia in U.S. older adults. Data came from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. At round 3 (2013), participants reported napping frequency (non-napper, infrequent, frequent), intention (non-napper, intentional, unintentional) and duration (non-napper, ≤30 minutes, >30 minutes). The 995 included participants had no possible/probable dementia at round 3 and were followed to round 13 (2023). Dementia was classified at each round with a validated algorithm, and possible/probable dementia was the outcome.
Supporting source [1]
Frequent and unintentional napping linked to higher hazard
Compared with non-nappers, frequent nappers had 1.48 times the hazard of incident possible/probable dementia (95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.94). Unintentional napping was also associated (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.81). No associations were found for infrequent or intentional napping. Napping ≤30 minutes was associated (hazard ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.85), while the association for napping >30 minutes weakened after further adjustment for sleep variables (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.69). Models adjusted for demographic, health and sleep variables.
Supporting source [1]
Observational design limits causal reading of napping links
The authors describe daytime napping as possibly a modifiable risk factor for dementia only if further evidence supports this. They call for future studies with detailed napping characteristics and longer follow-up. Because napping was self-reported and this is an observational cohort, the results show associations, not that napping causes dementia. This summary is based on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Napping was self-reported, the design is an observational cohort, and the findings are associations, not evidence that napping causes dementia.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Jiang K, Gross AL, Wu CT, Li J, Amjad H, Wickwire EM, Albrecht JS, Malhotra A, Tseng CI, Kaizi-Lutu M, Liu C, Kaufmann CN, Spira AP. · europepmc.org · September 1, 2026