Afternoon naps linked to better mental agility: Study reveals

Researchers during a recent study have found that taking a regular nap during the afternoon can be linked to better mental agility in people. According to the research published in the online journal 'General Psychiatry,' afternoon napping seems to be associated with better locational awareness, verbal fluency and working memory.

The study looked at both physical and cognitive health amongst 2,214 people over the age of 60 residing in large cities. Of these, 1,534 took regular afternoon naps while 680 did not. Researchers found that people who took afternoon naps performed better on cognitive tests than people who did not.

As per researchers, afternoon naps benefit people of any age by resting the brain and clearing out our jumble of daily thoughts. The nap should be for 10 to 30 minutes and should be taken between 1 and 3 p.m. An analyst added that longer naps might be a sign that a person is not getting adequate night time sleep.