A new study sheds light on sleep and cognitive changes in older adults. Namely, sleeping for a short amount of time and sleep variability were linked to poor cognitive function, the authors reported.
Researchers already know that amyloid deposition occurs within 15 years before cognitive impairment, which occurs before cognitive decline. The medical community largely thinks that targeting pathogenic mechanisms early can combat the disease’s progression. That was the impetus for studying sleep. ‘
Chronic sleep disturbance may raise cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, stroke, depression, and diabetes risks, which increase cognitive impairment risk, the authors said in the study published Monday in JAMA Network Open.
The researchers wanted to see if self-reported sleep duration was associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. A total of 826 participants filled out questionnaires every three to five years, five times from 1993 to 2012, and underwent neuropsychological assessments every five to seven years from 1997 to 2019. Of the participants, the mean age was 76, and 57% were women.
The team assessed sleep phenotypes: short sleep (less than seven hours each night), medium sleep (seven hours) and long sleep (more than seven hours). The team evaluated the median duration of sleep, sleep duration alterations and sleep variability.
Higher variability in sleep patterns and short sleeper status were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Of the participants, 7% showed cognitive decline at the final assessment, with a higher cognitive decline happening in the older people. Factors related to cognitive impairment included education level and having the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which is linked to Alzheimer’s risk. People who slept the shortest and those who have variability in sleep patterns had links to age-associated cognitive decline.
Age significantly affected sleep duration, as older people slept longer and there were fewer short- and medium-duration sleepers.
Short sleep duration, changes in patterns linked to poor cognitive function, study shows
A new study sheds light on sleep and cognitive changes in older adults. Namely, sleeping for a short amount of time and sleep variability were linked to poor cognitive function, the authors reported.
Researchers already know that amyloid deposition occurs within 15 years before cognitive impairment, which occurs before cognitive decline. The medical community largely thinks that targeting pathogenic mechanisms early can combat the disease’s progression. That was the impetus for studying sleep. ‘
Chronic sleep disturbance may raise cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, stroke, depression, and diabetes risks, which increase cognitive impairment risk, the authors said in the study published Monday in JAMA Network Open.
The researchers wanted to see if self-reported sleep duration was associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. A total of 826 participants filled out questionnaires every three to five years, five times from 1993 to 2012, and underwent neuropsychological assessments every five to seven years from 1997 to 2019. Of the participants, the mean age was 76, and 57% were women.
The team assessed sleep phenotypes: short sleep (less than seven hours each night), medium sleep (seven hours) and long sleep (more than seven hours). The team evaluated the median duration of sleep, sleep duration alterations and sleep variability.
Higher variability in sleep patterns and short sleeper status were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Of the participants, 7% showed cognitive decline at the final assessment, with a higher cognitive decline happening in the older people. Factors related to cognitive impairment included education level and having the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which is linked to Alzheimer’s risk. People who slept the shortest and those who have variability in sleep patterns had links to age-associated cognitive decline.
Age significantly affected sleep duration, as older people slept longer and there were fewer short- and medium-duration sleepers.
