Frequent morning naps may signal health risks, study finds

April 22, 2026 / 7:04 PM

Sharjah 24 – WAM: A recent study suggests that frequent daytime sleepiness in older adults may be a warning sign of underlying health conditions and is linked to an increased risk of mortality.

Possible hidden health indicators

Researchers found that prolonged or frequent napping—especially in the morning—may be associated with undiagnosed conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, or sleep-related problems.

Long-term study findings

The study followed more than 1,300 participants for up to 19 years, using wrist-worn devices to track activity and rest patterns with high accuracy.

Increased risk linked to longer naps

Published in JAMA Network Open, the findings showed that each additional hour of daily napping was associated with a 13% increase in mortality risk, while each extra nap was linked to a 7% increase. Morning naps were also associated with higher risk compared to naps at other times of the day.

Napping common but needs monitoring

While napping is common among 20% to 60% of older adults and can sometimes be beneficial, researchers noted that excessive daytime sleep may warrant medical evaluation.