Category: 8. Health

Researchers say they have found clear evidence that the human brain can keep making new neurons well into adulthood, potentially settling decades of controversy.

This new neuron growth, or “neurogenesis,” takes place in the hippocampus, a critical part of the brain involved in learning, memory and emotions.

Both standard and ultrahigh resolution modes are effective for coronary CT angiography (CCTA) performed by photon-counting detector CT (PCCT) — but ultrahigh has an extra advantage in patients with severe coronary artery disease, researchers have found.

The findings will help clinicians optimize protocols for PCCT CCTA, according to a team led by Mengzhen Wang, MD, of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China.

“For coronary CTA performed by photon-counting detector (PCD) CT, diagnostic performance for significant stenosis is optimized through acquisition in ultrahigh resolution (UHR) mode with reconstruction at 0.2-mm slice thickness,” the American Journal of Roentgenology noted in a statement about the study, which was published July 3.

CCTA is a widely used tool for evaluating the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, but its diagnostic efficacy is lower in patients with extensive coronary artery calcification, the team explained. That’s where PCCT comes in: The technology offers higher contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution than conventional CT imaging.

In their study, Wang and colleagues assessed the diagnostic performance for detecting stenosis on CCTA performed by PCCT with various standard resolution and ultrahigh resolution protocols. The group used invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the reference standard.

The research included a total of 122 inpatients who underwent CCTA between October 2023 and October 2024; of these, 61 patients underwent exams with a standard resolution protocol and 61 with an ultrahigh resolution protocol. The patients also underwent ICA.

The exams were reconstructed in the following manner:

• Standard resolution: “SRnormal” and “SRVNCa” (virtual noncalcium) image sets, both using 0.6-mm slice thickness and Bv40 kernel.
• Ultrahigh resolution: “UHRnormal” (0.6-mm slice thickness, Bv40) and “UHRthin” (0.2-mm slice thickness, Bv64) image sets.

Two radiologists measured the diameters of any stenoses; these were considered significant at a threshold equal to or greater than 50%.  

Per-segment CCTA interpretation performance by reader
Measure	Reader 1	Reader 2
SRnormal
Sensitivity	92.9%	92.9%
Specificity	89.9%	88.8%
Accuracy	90.5%	89.6%
SRVNCa (virtual calcium)
Sensitivity	92.9%	93.5%
Specificity	91.6%	92.3%
Accuracy	91.9%	92.5%
UHRnormal
Sensitivity	96%	96%
Specificity	92.4%	91.6%
Accuracy	93%	92.2%
UHRthin
Sensitivity	100%	100%
Specificity	98.6%	98.9%
Accuracy	98.8%	99%

72-year-old female participant with heart failure. Patient underwent coronary CTA by photon-counting detector CTA, acquired in UHR mode. Agatston score was 1,615. Heart rate was 59 beats/min. (A) Reconstructed UHRnormal image. Proximal RCA shows calcified plaque. Inset shows cross-section of RCA at level of thin line traversing vessel. (B) Reconstructed UHRthin image. Proximal LCX shows calcified plaque. Inset shows cross-section of RCA at level of thin line traversing vessel. Insets show less blooming artifact from calcified plaque for UHRthin than for UHRnormal. Stenosis at site of calcification was measured as 60% for UHRnormal and 30% for UHRthin. (C) Image from subsequent invasive coronary angiography shows 30% stenosis of RCA (arrow). UHR = ultrahigh resolution. Images and caption courtesy of the AJR.

The key finding of the work was that both standard resolution and ultrahigh resolution PCCT achieved high diagnostic performance for significant stenosis using ICA as the reference standard — although the team did note that “the superior diagnostic performance of UHR mode was most evident in patients with heavily calcified vessels,” writing that “radiology practices could consider prioritization of UHR mode for patients with known extensive coronary calcification or with strong clinical suspicion for severe CAD.”

The complete study can be found here.

Neuroinflammation may play a significant role in positron emission tomography (PET) detection of progressive apraxia of speech (PAOS) and determining whether there is coexisting Parkinson-plus syndrome, according to new research presented at the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference.

For the prospective study, researchers reviewed data from (¹¹C)ER176 TSPO PET and (¹⁸F)flortaucipir tau PET scans obtained for 25 patients with PAOS (including 13 patients with Parkinson-plus syndrome) and 30 healthy control participants.

In a recent interview at the SNMMI conference, lead study author Ryota Satoh, Ph.D., said the study findings revealed significantly greater neuroinflammation for patients with PAOS in regions such as the premotor cortex, basal ganglia and the superior, middle and inferior frontal gyri in contrast to PET scans from healthy control participants.

While the uptake pattern on PET scans was limited to the left frontal gyri and bilateral premotor cortex in patients with PAOS and no Parkinson-plus syndrome, Dr. Satoh noted that those with PAOS and Parkinson-plus syndrome had broader uptake that extended to prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortices.

“These results suggest that tau-associated neuroinflammation could occur in early stages of the disease, but the degree of neuroinflammation increases and spreads once the patient develop Parkinson-plus syndrome,” noted Dr. Satoh, an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

(Editor’s note: For additional coverage of the SNMMI conference, click here.)

While acknowledging the need for larger cohort longitudinal studies, Dr. Satoh said the neuroinflammation may emerge as a key consideration in disease treatment in this patient population.

“Our results suggest that inflammation plays an important role in the disease mechanisms of PAOS, and it is related to underlying … tau. These results indicate an inflammation mechanism could be the target of the treatment of this disease,” added Dr. Satoh.

(Editor’s note: For related content, see “FDA Clears Emerging Brain PET System,” “Can Brain MRI-Based Connectome Mapping Predict the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease?” and “Researcher Presents First Non-Invasive Images or Alpha-Synuclein in the Brain.”)

For more insights from Dr. Satoh, watch the video below.

Reference

1. Satoh R, Utianski RL, Duffy JR, et al. Neuroinflammatory (11C)ER176 TSPO PET profile with colocalized tau uptake in progressive apraxia of speech. Presented at the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference, June 21-24, 2025, New Orleans. Available at: https://www.xcdsystem.com/snmmi/program/B95p18u/index.cfm?pgid=2402&sid=46745&mobileappid=4674500000 .

Being well-hydrated has many benefits beyond quenching thirst. Hydration is necessary for your body to function properly, and you can’t survive more than about three days without hydration. Your brain is also highly dependent on water. Even slight dehydration can negatively impact mood, memory and concentration. 

Studies have shown a link between hydration status and blood flow. Essentially, when we’re dehydrated, our blood is thicker and doesn’t flow as easily through our blood vessels. This also increases the chances of it being “clumpy.” And clumpy blood has been linked to stroke and heart attacks, the No. 1 killer of American adults. Researchers also point out evidence that drinking enough water is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Plus, there’s even a link between adequate water intake and lower levels of inflammation.

Researchers from China wanted to know if drinking enough plain water could reduce stroke risk, and if so, what threshold of water intake makes a difference. They took a closer look at data from a long-term American study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), to find answers and published their findings in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. Let’s break down what they found.

How Was This Study Conducted?

Researchers pulled data from the years 1999 to 2020 of NHANES. They included adults over the age of 20 at baseline, with an average age of 49. More than 29,000 people were included in this analysis, and about 48% were male. 

For NHANES, participants completed 24-hour diet recalls that included daily water intake. Since recalling what we ate the previous day leaves room for error, researchers took the average of two 24-hour recalls for increased accuracy. Participants were then placed into one of four quartiles (groups) based on their water intake. Those in quartile 1 (Q1) had the lowest water intake, and those in Q4 had the highest.

Information on stroke was gathered from participants answering the question, “Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you had a stroke?” Almost 1,300 participants answered yes. 

Variables that would be adjusted for during statistical analyses included age, sex, ethnicity/race, education and income levels, smoking status, alcohol intake, BMI, physical activity, calorie consumption, hydration consumption, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. 

What Did This Study Find?

After adjusting for all relevant demographic variables—plus total calorie and hydration consumption—the group that drank the most water had a 25% lower risk of stroke compared to those who drank the least. 

Researchers also found an association between stroke risk and the amount of plain water intake. Those who drank less than approximately 1,400 mL of water per day—which is equal to about 6 cups or 47 fluid ounces of water—had a significantly higher risk of stroke. 

Some limitations of this study include the 24-hour dietary recalls, which, as previously mentioned, leave room for error and bias in participants recalling what they ate. Also, because NHANES is an observational study, researchers cannot establish causation, just that there is an association between those who drink more plain water and a lower risk of stroke. Lastly, only plain water was considered, so it’s unknown if other types of water, like sparkling water, might have the same associations with stroke risk as plain water.

How Does This Apply to Real Life?

The amount of water needed for each person depends on several factors, including sex, age, activity levels and medications. And while it is person-dependent, there are some general guidelines to provide a framework for you. For example, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends that men drink 15.5 cups of water per day and women drink 11.5 cups per day.

Eating hydrating foods can also add to your hydration status. Nosh on watermelon, cucumbers, apples, grapefruit, okra, tomatoes and plain Greek yogurt to help stay hydrated. 

If your blood sugar tends to run on the high side, consider your hydrating habits. When blood is thicker and more viscous, blood sugar is more concentrated. Drinking plenty of water helps thin it out and can help lower blood sugar levels. 

With that said, too much of a good thing is, well, too much, and you can overhydrate. Referred to as hyponatremia or water intoxication, flooding your body with too much water dilutes the body’s electrolytes. And while rare, it can lead to death. Some signs you might be over imbibing on the H2O include clear urine, bloating, nausea, brain fog, headache and confusion. 

Do an assessment of your water intake. It can help to track it over several days and take the average of them. Are you coming close to the recommended 11.5 to 15.5 cups a day? It also helps to assess the color of your urine. Ideally, it’s about the color of diluted lemonade. This color suggests that you’re getting enough water into you. If it’s dark yellow or amber, it’s a sign that you’re not and are dehydrated, so drink up. 

It’s important to note that certain medications, supplements and foods can affect urine color. For example, if you’ve eaten beets, your urine might be red-tinged. And supplements that contain B vitamins can give you bright yellow pee. 

One strategy to get you started is to swap one of your typical drinks for water. So if you tend to grab soda throughout the day, start by exchanging one soda a day with water. Next week, swap out two sodas and so on. 

If you can’t stomach all that plain water, try flavoring it with fruits, vegetables and herbs. Lemon, Cucumber and Mint Infused Water is clean and refreshing on the palate. Or add berries or a splash of 100% juice to up the flavor quotient of plain water. Another trick is to try the water at different temperatures. Some people can tolerate it better when it’s ice cold. 

Besides staying well-hydrated, there are other lifestyle factors that may help lower your stroke risk, too. Following a heart-healthy diet plan or an eating style like the Mediterranean diet will go a long way toward getting the nutrients you need for a healthy heart and brain. So stock up on plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats. Engaging in regular physical activity, dealing with what’s stressing you out and getting plenty of quality sleep also play large, connected roles in preventing diseases like stroke. 

Our Expert Take

According to this study, drinking less than 6 cups a day of plain water increases your risk of stroke. It is unknown whether plain carbonated waters, like sparkling water, reduce stroke risk, but they do contribute to overall hydration. Flavor your water with fruit, veggies and herbs if you have a difficult time imbibing plain water. Also consider your whole-health picture and other lifestyle habits that contribute to heart and brain health, which play a role in stroke prevention.

A recent study published in Genes & Diseases reveals a novel role of XPR1 in promoting ovarian cancer growth by regulating autophagy and MHC-I expression. The research, conducted by scientists from Chongqing Medical University, identifies XPR1 as a critical factor influencing the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer through its interaction with LAMP1 and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings shed light on new therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer, a malignancy known for its poor prognosis and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The study highlights that XPR1 expression is significantly increased in ovarian cancer tissues compared to normal ovarian tissues. This heightened expression correlates with advanced cancer stages, reduced overall survival, and lower progression-free survival. Through CRISPR-Cas9 screening, researchers identified XPR1 as a potential regulator of autophagy. Subsequent experiments confirmed that silencing XPR1 decreased ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, while overexpression led to the opposite effect, indicating its role in promoting cancer growth.

Further analysis revealed that XPR1 interacts with LAMP1, a key lysosomal-associated membrane protein, and regulates its expression. This interaction modulates autophagy flux, particularly during the early phase of autophagy and to some extent during the lysosomal phase. Silencing XPR1 led to increased lysosome formation and autophagy, while its overexpression suppressed these processes. The study demonstrated that XPR1 regulates autophagy through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, inhibiting autophagy flux and thereby promoting ovarian cancer cell survival.

In addition to autophagy regulation, the study identified a critical role of XPR1 in immune evasion. MHC-I molecules, crucial for CD8+ T cell recognition and tumor cell killing, were found to be regulated by XPR1 through autophagy. Silencing XPR1, combined with the use of chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, significantly enhanced the presence of MHC-I molecules on ovarian cancer cells. This combination treatment reduced tumor growth in mouse models, suggesting that targeting XPR1 alongside autophagy inhibition could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer.

These findings suggest that XPR1 serves as a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer, especially in cases resistant to PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors. Targeting XPR1, either through direct silencing or by using autophagy inhibitors, may offer a novel approach to enhance the immune response against ovarian cancer. The study provides a foundation for future research into the use of autophagy modulators in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors to improve treatment outcomes.

DALLAS – July 03, 2025 – By using a genetic technique developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center that forces cells to rid themselves of mitochondria, researchers are gaining new insights into the function of these critical organelles. Their findings, published in Cell, add to fundamental knowledge about the role of mitochondria in cells and evolution and could eventually lead to new treatments for patients with mitochondrial diseases such as Leigh syndrome and Kearns-Sayre syndrome, which can affect numerous organ systems.

“Our new tool allows us to study how changes in mitochondrial abundance and the mitochondrial genome affect cells and organisms,” said Jun Wu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern. Dr. Wu co-led the study with Daniel Schmitz, Ph.D., a former graduate student in the Wu Lab who is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mitochondria are organelles found in the cells of most eukaryotic organisms, including animals, plants, and fungi, whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. They have their own genetic material, passed down exclusively through females of a species. Mitochondria are thought to have originated as prokaryotic cells – which lack membrane-bound organelles – and to have invaded ancestral eukaryotic cells and formed a symbiotic relationship with them.

Researchers have long known that these organelles serve as cells’ powerhouses, generating the energetic molecule adenosine triphosphate that fuels all cellular operations. However, recent studies have shown mitochondria play direct roles in regulating cell death, differentiating stem cells into other cell types, transmitting molecular signals, aging, and developmental timing.

Although mitochondria appear to perform many of these roles through “crosstalk” with the DNA in a cell’s nucleus, how they perform this function – and what happens if this crosstalk ceases – has been unknown.

To help answer these questions, Dr. Wu, Dr. Schmitz, and their colleagues took advantage of a pathway called mitophagy that cells normally use to dispose of old or damaged mitochondria. Using genetic engineering, the researchers forced cells to degrade all their mitochondria – a process known as “enforced mitophagy.”

The researchers used this process on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), a type of cell typically formed early in development that can differentiate into other cell types. Although this alteration caused the cells to stop dividing, the researchers unexpectedly found that the mitochondria-depleted cells could survive in petri dishes up to five days. They had similar results with different types of mouse stem cells and hPSCs harboring a pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutation, suggesting enforced mitophagy can be a viable tool for depleting mitochondria across species and cell types.

To determine how removing mitochondria affected the hPSCs, the researchers assessed nuclear gene expression. They found that 788 genes became less active and 1,696 became more active. An analysis of the affected genes showed the hPSCs appeared to retain their ability to form other cell types and that they could partially compensate for the lack of mitochondria, with proteins encoded by nuclear genes taking over energy production and certain other functions typically performed by the missing organelles.

Then the researchers, in an attempt to better understand crosstalk between mitochondria and the cell nucleus, fused hPSCs with pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from humans’ closest primate relatives – including chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, and orangutan. This formed “composite” cells with two nuclear genomes and two sets of mitochondria, one from each species. These composite cells selectively removed all non-human primate mitochondria, leaving behind only human mitochondria.

Next, using enforced mitophagy, the scientists created hPSCs devoid of human mitochondria and fused them to non-human primate PSCs, again creating cells carrying nuclear genomes from both species, but this time only non-human mitochondria. An analysis of composite cells containing either human or non-human mitochondria showed that the mitochondria were largely interchangeable despite millions of years of evolutionary separation, causing only subtle differences in gene expression within the composite nucleus.

Interestingly, the genes that differed in activity among cells harboring human and non-human mitochondria were mostly linked to brain development or neurological diseases. This raises the possibility that mitochondria may play a role in the brain differences between humans and our closest primate relatives. However, Dr. Wu said, more research – especially studies comparing neurons made from these composite PSCs – will be needed to better understand these differences.

Finally, the researchers studied how depleting mitochondria might affect development in whole organisms. They used a genetically encoded version of enforced mitophagy to reduce the amount of mitochondria in mouse embryos, then implanted them into surrogate mothers to develop. Embryos missing more than 65% of their mitochondria failed to implant in their surrogate’s uterus. However, those missing about a third of their mitochondria experienced delayed development, catching up to normal mitochondrial numbers and a typical developmental timeline by 12.5 days after fertilization.

Together, the researchers say, these results serve as starting points for new lines of research into the different roles mitochondria play in cellular function, tissues and organ development, aging, and species evolution. They plan to use enforced mitophagy to continue studying these organelles in a variety of capacities.

Other UTSW researchers who contributed to this study are Peter Ly, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology; Daiji Okamura, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology; Seiya Oura, Ph.D., and Leijie Li, Ph.D., postdoctoral researchers; Yi Ding, Ph.D., Research Associate; Rashmi Dahiya, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate; Emily Ballard, B.S., graduate student researcher; and Masahiro Sakurai, Ph.D., Research Scientist.

Dr. Wu is a Virginia Murchison Linthicum Scholar in Medical Research. Drs. Wu and Ly are members of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center 

UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 23 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,200 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 140,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.1 million outpatient visits a year.

The U.S. is about to break a record for the number of reported measles cases in a year since the infection was considered eliminated in 2000.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 1,267 confirmed measles cases so far this year.

The last annual high was 1,274 during an outbreak in 2019. Prior to 2000, the record high number of cases occurred in 1990.

The CDC said 12% of the measles cases to date have required hospitalization. Three cases have resulted in deaths, including two young children in Texas — the epicenter of the ongoing outbreak — and an adult in New Mexico.

Nearly 40 states have reported at least one measles case so far this year, but Texas still has the highest outbreak numbers with over 700 cases.

RELATED STORY | As summer travel increases, measles cases continue to rise

The Wyoming Department of Health reported its first case of measles in the state in 15 years.

Overwhelming — 92% — of the cases involved individuals who had not been vaccinated against the infection.

Health experts said the best way to avoid getting the highly contagious infection is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old, and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

RELATED STORY | Travel and outbreaks: Should you vaccinate your child earlier for measles?

Adults can get another MMR shot if there are concerns about immunity waning off, according to the CDC.

Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The CDC said you can get measles just by being in a room that an infected person was in up to two hours beforehand.

It’s more than just the rash associated with the infection. Measles impacts the respiratory system, and cause a high fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes.

The CDC said most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and even death.

BALOCHISTAN: Surrounded by an intense heatwave and extended power outages, Osta Muhammad’s spoiled medicines are reported to have been sold in medical stores in the district, raising serious public health challenges, ARY News reported.

According to local health authorities, thermosensitive drugs are being stored at extreme heat, reaching up to 50°C, far above the preferred scale for pharmaceutical safety.

The heatwave impact on pharmaceuticals has been a burning question across Balochistan, with Osta Muhammad’s spoiled medicines specifically highlighted.

As per the confirmation of the District Health Officer (DHO), patients have suffered serious health problems after consuming expired medicines. “These spoiled medicines are being sold openly, and patients are at risk of life-threatening reactions,” the DHO stated.

Medical experts highlight that storage of medicines at a raised temperature can convert them into poison or even toxins. “The chemical composition of many drugs breaks down when exposed to excessive heat, especially those requiring refrigeration,” a senior pharmacist stated in Karachi.

Meanwhile, store owners defend Osta Muhammad’s spoiled medicines by stating that they cannot afford generators to maintain proper storage conditions during load shedding.

This situation reflects comparable events occurring throughout Pakistan. In recent months, authorities in Sargodha and Nawabshah have shut down several medical stores for distributing unregistered or expired medicines.

The problem is further intensified by insufficient enforcement measures and a lack of public awareness, particularly in rural communities.

Read More: DRAP’s rapid alert fuels Punjab’s drug crackdown

In a resolute action to protect public health, the Punjab Drug Control Directorate has launched a key crackdown on counterfeit medicines in Punjab, indicating that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to issue a national emergency warning.

According to media reports and official sources, the operation exposed counterfeit drugs in Punjab, which were being sold under the names of well-established pharmaceutical brands.

Included medicines were being sold for the treatment of fever, throat infections, fungal conditions, and gynaecological illnesses.

A new study says that older adults who nap too much during the day may have a higher risk of death. This study was presented at SLEEP 2025, a big sleep science event in Seattle, Washington. The research looked at daytime naps, especially longer and irregular naps in the early afternoon, and found these were linked to a higher death risk over 8 years, as per the report by Fox News Digital.

Chenlu Gao, the study’s lead author and a postdoc at Massachusetts General Hospital, said they wanted to understand more than just if people nap — but also how long, when, and how often. The study had 86,565 participants with an average age of 63. All had regular daytime jobs, as per reports.

Naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were most risky

These people wore devices that tracked their movement during sleep. It didn’t check brain activity though. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Over the next 8 years, 5,189 people (6%) from the study died, as stated in the report by Fox News Digital.
People who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or took longer naps had higher chances of dying during those 8 years. The study also adjusted for other death risk factors like age, weight, smoking, alcohol, and night sleep time. Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a sleep expert from Wesper, New York, who wasn’t part of the study, said naps are okay unless they’re used to make up for bad night sleep, according to the report by Fox News Digital.

Long naps might mean you’re not sleeping well at night

She also said adults need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep at night to stay healthy and avoid diseases like heart problems and diabetes. One issue with the study: it might have confused “quiet rest” with actual sleep, because the tracker only checks movement, not brain activity, as mentioned in the reports.

Also, defining naps as between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. may have accidentally included some people’s real sleep, not just naps. Too much daytime sleeping could be a sign of other health problems like chronic illness, body inflammation, or issues with the body’s internal clock, as mentioned by Fox News Digital. ALSO READ : Michael Madsen, iconic ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ actor, dies at 67

Dr. Rohrscheib said if someone needs a nap every day, they probably have bad night sleep or an underlying health issue. Chenlu Gao said more studies are needed to find out whether naps directly cause health issues, or if they’re just a sign of something else.
But Gao also said watching people’s napping patterns could help spot health problems early and let doctors step in faster. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says healthy naps should be under 20 to 30 minutes, and taken early in the afternoon, according to the reports.

Short “power naps” can help you feel more awake and full of energy. But if you nap for more than 30 minutes, you might feel tired or dizzy after waking up.

In short, sleeping too much during the day after age 60 can be risky. The time, length, and how often you nap may show signs about your health, according to Fox News Digital

FAQs

Q1. Is it dangerous for older adults to nap a lot during the day?
Yes, a new study says too much daytime napping after age 60 may raise the risk of death.

Q2. How long should a healthy nap be?
Experts say naps should be 20–30 minutes and taken early in the afternoon.