It seems to me that perhaps the data better supports that dementia is correlated with unintentional and short naps. This makes it sound like they think it is causal, which I doubt.
Yes, ironically they even admit possible reverse causal effect along with many other causal variables. Frankly, this is not exactly stellar research in my view, at least with the rather reckless insinuations not supported.
> I wonder if this study is missing some quite big issues here.
Definitely seems like a possible "correlation is not causation".
I would find it hard to believe that sleep is somehow biologically harmful.
So, like your example, excessive or unintentionally napping is instead a sign of an underlying issue or poor health. Possibly the body trying to sleep to repair some damage?
I wonder what unitentional napping means as well. I assume it's for example watching TV/reading a book on the sofa and falling asleep as opposed to wanting to fall asleep with a book or while watching TV.
drive-by comment: unintentional napping seems likely to occur more in those failing to get actual restful sleep on the regular. Don't we already know chronic sleep deprivation correlates with dementia/alzheimers risk?
Intentional napping was not.
One could easily reverse cause and effect here.
I used to 'unintentionally nap' all the time since I was a teen.
Then I discovered I had sleep apnea. No more napping. And dementia has been linked to sleep apnea.
I wonder if this study is missing some quite big issues here.
Definitely seems like a possible "correlation is not causation".
I would find it hard to believe that sleep is somehow biologically harmful.
So, like your example, excessive or unintentionally napping is instead a sign of an underlying issue or poor health. Possibly the body trying to sleep to repair some damage?
Napping for me means intentionally having a short sleep. I don’t know what unintentional napping is.
"I'm going to go take a nap in bed."
vs
"I fell asleep in a chair."
In medicine, sometimes semantics are more important than you think.
drive-by comment: unintentional napping seems likely to occur more in those failing to get actual restful sleep on the regular. Don't we already know chronic sleep deprivation correlates with dementia/alzheimers risk?