Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests

Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests

Frequent, longer naps linked to higher mortality risk in adults over 60, with limitations

The study found that frequent, longer and irregular daytime naps were linked to a higher risk of death over an eight-year period. (iStock)

The research showed that taking longer naps — and napping between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — was associated with a higher mortality rate. (iStock)

Researchers noted that excessive napping could be a marker of other health issues such as chronic disease, systemic inflammation or disruptions to circadian rhythms. (iStock)

Because the study relied on detecting movement, but not brain activity, "quiet wakefulness" may have been misclassified as sleep. (iStock)