Taiwan kindergarten druggings spark alarm among islands' parents
At least eight children at a preschool were found with trace amounts of sedatives in their system.
1970-01-01 08:00
Regular daytime naps could be good for the brain, study shows
Regular daytime naps could be good for brain health, new research suggests. Daytime napping could slow the rate at which brains shrink as we age, the study led by researchers at UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay found. The researchers hope their findings into the health benefits of sleeping during the day will reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping. The study suggests the average difference in brain volume between people programmed to be habitual nappers and those who were not was equivalent to 2.6 to 6.5 years of ageing. Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older Dr Victoria Garfield, UCL Senior author Dr Victoria Garfield, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL, said: “Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older.” The study, published in the journal Sleep Health, analysed data from people aged 40 to 69. Past research has suggested people who have had a short nap perform better in cognitive tests in the hours afterwards than those who did not nap. The new study looked at whether there was a causal relationship between daytime napping and brain health. Researchers looked at 97 snippets of DNA thought to determine people’s likelihood of habitual napping. They compared measures of brain health and cognition of people who are more genetically programmed to nap with people who did not have these changes in DNA, using data from 378,932 people from the UK Biobank study. They found that, overall, people predetermined to nap had a larger total brain volume. The genetic variants – DNA changes – influencing the likelihood of someone to nap were identified in an earlier study looking at data from 452,633 UK Biobank participants. But the researchers did not find a difference in how well those programmed to be habitual nappers performed on three other measures of brain health and cognitive function. Lead author and PhD candidate Valentina Paz, University of the Republic (Uruguay) and MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, said: “This is the first study to attempt to untangle the causal relationship between habitual daytime napping and cognitive and structural brain outcomes. “By looking at genes set at birth, Mendelian randomisation avoids confounding factors occurring throughout life that may influence associations between napping and health outcomes. “Our study points to a causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume.” Dr Garfield added: “I hope studies such as this one showing the health benefits of short naps can help to reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping.” Read More Dramatic rise in the number of women freezing their eggs Paramedics who found ‘poisoned’ couple dead in Mexico hotel room also fell ill Bruce Willis’ family honours him with first Father’s Day tributes since announcing his dementia diagnosis Richard Ford on Frank Bascombe, getting older and literary feuds: ‘At my age I can’t get into fistfights’ Families’ ‘disappointment’ as Croydon tram disaster driver cleared
1970-01-01 08:00
College Entrance Exams to Cut ‘Killer Questions’ in South Korea
South Korea will stop asking “killer questions” on notoriously competitive college entrance exams in an effort to make
1970-01-01 08:00
Titanic tourist submersible: Rescuers scan ocean as clock ticks
The US and Canada are urgently searching for a tourist submersible not seen since Sunday.
1970-01-01 08:00
Korea Small-Cap Shorts Surge Sets Up Funds-Versus-Retail Battle
Short selling activity soared in South Korea’s Kosdaq index as the small-cap benchmark approaches its April high, setting
1970-01-01 08:00
Houston rapper Big Pokey dies after collapsing on stage
Rapper Big Pokey has died at the age of 45 after collapsing on stage in Texas.
1970-01-01 08:00
South Korea to gradually normalise regulations on banks from H2
SEOUL South Korea will gradually unwind relaxed regulations on banks from the second half of this year, the
1970-01-01 08:00
Mariners vs. Yankees prediction and odds for Tuesday, June 20 (Keep fading Yanks)
The New York Yankees are in trouble.New York has lost four straight – getting swept by the Boston Red Sox over the weekend – moving it to just 9-14 when Aaron Judge is out of the lineup.New York is hoping to turn things around with Gerrit Cole (7-1, 2.75 ERA) on the mound against...
1970-01-01 08:00
Search Underway for Titanic-Wreck Submersible With Five Crew
Searchers raced to find a submersible diving vessel with five people aboard that went missing in the North
1970-01-01 08:00
These Are World’s Most Expensive Cities For High-Class Living
Singapore surged to top the rankings as the most expensive city in the world for luxury living for
1970-01-01 08:00
Condom Maker Draws Rush of Buy Calls on 57% Jump Since India IPO
Mankind Pharma Ltd. has garnered the most analyst coverage of any new Indian stock in at least 12
1970-01-01 08:00
New Zealand to investigate profitability, competition at banks
SYDNEY New Zealand said on Tuesday it would examine the profitability of the country's banks and investigate whether
1970-01-01 08:00
