Short daytime napping reduces the risk of cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults: a 5-year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Beneficial effects of napping on cognition have been suggested in cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to clarify longitudinal associations between cognitive decline and sleep characteristics, particularly daytime napping, over a 5-year period in older adults. METHODS: Study participants were 389 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years living in Ojiya City, Niigata, Japan. Baseline and follow-up examinations were conducted in 2011–2013 and 2016–2018, respectively. Trained nurses visited and interviewed participants to collect the following information at baseline and follow-up: demographic characteristics, disease history, lifestyle habits including bedtime, sleeping hours, and daytime nap duration, and cognitive function. The assessment of cognitive function was performed using the revised Hasegawa’s dementia scale (HDS-R), with cognitive decline defined as a change in the HDS-R of ≤ − 3 over 5 years. Odds ratios (ORs) for cognitive decline were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 74.6 years (SD 6.4), and the cumulative incidence of cognitive decline was 106/389 (27.3%). The adjusted OR for 1–29 min daytime napping was significantly lower compared to that for no napping (OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.23–0.96). Earlier bedtime was associated with cognitive decline (adjusted P for trend = 0.0480). CONCLUSION: Short daytime napping (< 30 min) reduces the risk of cognitive decline over 5 years for community-dwelling older people. A future study will be necessary to confirm the effect of short napping on the reduction of risk for clinically diagnosed dementia. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02418-0.