By Harry Dennis • Published: 06 Aug 2026 • 12:23 • 3 minutes readLong, frequent or morning naps may offer a clue to an older adult’s wider health, researchers say. Significantly, however, when the researchers restricted one analysis to participants without cognitive impairment, the association between morning nap timing and mortality was no longer statistically significant. Longer naps were linked to being overweight and to a combination of health problems that can raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease. A simple record of nap times, their durations and one’s night-time sleep can be extremely useful context for a doctor. The short, post-lunch siesta has not become dangerous, and there’s no need to cancel that arm-chair appointment.