Daytime Naps May Reduce Depression Risk According to New Genetic Study
Yes, daytime napping can improve your health by reducing the risk of depression, with longer naps offering stronger protection based on genetic evidence.
- Mendelian randomization establishes a causal link between daytime napping and lower depression risk, minimizing confounding factors.
- Longer naps demonstrate a stronger protective effect against mental health issues compared to shorter ones.
| Claim | Scientific Observation | Impact Magnitude | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime napping reduces depression risk | Genetically predicted duration via Mendelian randomization | Lower risk, protective effect | Jiaqing Xing et al. (2024), General Psychiatry | ||
| Longer naps strengthen protection | Duration-dependent genetic associations | Enhanced protective effect | Jiaqing Xing et al. (2024), General Psychiatry | ||
| Short naps provide less protection | Graded response in genetic analysis | Weaker effect for brief naps | Jiaqing Xing et al. (2024), General Psychiatry | ||
| Benefits consistent across populations | Analysis in diverse datasets | Broad applicability | Jiaqing Xing et al. (2024), General Psychiatry |