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Exercise and napping found to equally boost memory after sleep loss
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that short bouts of aerobic exercise can provide memory-protecting benefits similar to napping following sleep deprivation.
Researchers studied 54 healthy adults aged 18 to 35 who were kept awake for 30 hours. Participants were divided into three groups: one performed 20 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous cycling, another took a 90-minute nap, and a control group remained sedentary. Results showed that the exercise group recognized 56% of images, while the napping group recognized 57%, both significantly outperforming the control group's 46%.
Dr. Leana Wen, a wellness expert and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, noted that while the two methods yielded similar cognitive results, they functioned through different neurological processes. Napping appeared to reduce sleep pressure and fatigue, whereas exercise seemed to improve the efficiency of memory processing in the brain despite continued fatigue.
Entities
CDC · George Washington University · Leana Wen · National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 15.4% of U.S. adults reported trouble falling asleep most or every day in the 30 days prior to 2024.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences compared the effects of aerobic exercise and napping on memory protection following sleep deprivation. kioncentralcoast.com · kvia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute links sleep deficiency to difficulties with problem-solving and emotional control.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In a study of sleep-deprived participants, the napping group recognized 57% of images, the exercise group recognized 56%, and the control group recognized 46%. kioncentralcoast.com · kvia.com