UNRAVELING THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN NAPPING AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIE
by Dongyeon Kim
Category: Medicine
Abstract – The associations between daytime napping and Alzheimer's disease have been widely controversial. This study examines whether daytime napping is an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease or rather improves cognitive abilities through a thorough systematic review of prior literature reviews. There is a variety of published journals that debate this topic, with some arguing that daytime napping benefits cognition, and others arguing that it leads to cognitive decline, while some suggest it is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the elderly. Through the synthesis of current literature, with 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, a potential link between daytime napping and the risk of Alzheimer's disease or cognitive decline is discussed. Extended or long naps (>90 minutes) were associated with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and an increased risk of cognitive impairment, further increasing the chances of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. Guidance for the prevention of habitual napping and directions for future research were discussed to mitigate the impact of Alzheimer's disease.