The habit of sleeping for an hour or 30 minutes after lunch has been found to boost brain activity in older adults. The researchers behind this finding believe that a nap in general in the afternoon can keep the brain five times younger.

According to the Daily Mail, the study involved more than 2,000 Chinese adults who were older than 60 years. More than 50 percent of the participants in the study reported that they took naps everyday after lunch for 90-30 minutes.

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The study involved giving the participants a range of calculations to undertake as well as memory-related tests to assess their cognitive abilities. The research findings were published in the scientific journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The study revealed that those who took hour-long naps performed better at the tasks. This test was also conducted on individuals who were part of a control group and did not take naps.

The research revealed that those who took short naps displayed a decrease in their cognitive abilities. However, those who took slept for an hour displayed four to six times increase in their cognitive abilities, Health reported.

Dr. Junxin Li, one of the researchers behind the study, explained that those who did not take a nap or took shorter naps also experienced a decline in their mental capabilities. 

While the research study displayed a link between an hour long nap and mental abilities, the research was unable to establish a cause and effect relationship to confirm the findings. However, previous studies have highlighted significant health benefits of indulging in short naps called "power naps."

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