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 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.
Intentional napping was not.
One could easily reverse cause and effect here.
"I'm going to go take a nap in bed."
vs
"I fell asleep in a chair."