Sleep disturbances and change in multiple cognitive domains among older adults: a multicenter study of five Nordic cohorts
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVES: We examined and compared cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between self-reported sleep disturbances and various cognitive domains in five separate Nordic European longitudinal aging studies (baseline N = 5631, mean age = 77.7, mean follow-up = 4.16 years). METHODS: Comparable sleep parameters across studies included reduced sleep duration/quality, insomnia symptoms (sleep latency, waking up at night, and early awakenings), short and long sleep duration, and daytime napping. The cognitive domains were episodic memory, verbal fluency, perceptual speed, executive functioning, and global cognition (aggregated measure). A series of mixed linear models were run separately in each study and then compared to assess the level and rate of change in cognitive functioning across each sleep disturbance parameter. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, hypnotic usage, depressive symptoms, lifestyle factors, cardiovascular, and metabolic conditions. By using a coordinated analytic approach, comparable construct-level measurements were generated, and results from identical statistical models were qualitatively compared across studies. RESULTS: While the pattern of statistically significant results varied across studies, subjective sleep disturbances were consistently associated with worse cognition and steeper cognitive decline. Insomnia symptoms were associated with poorer episodic memory and participants sleeping less or more than 7-8 hours had a steeper decline in perceptual speed. In addition, daytime napping (>2 hours) was cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with all examined cognitive domains. Most observed associations were study-specific (except for daytime napping), and a majority of association estimates remained significant after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSION: This rigorous multicenter investigation further supports the importance of sleep disturbance, including insomnia, long and short sleep duration, and daytime napping on baseline cognitive functioning and rate of change among older adults. These sleep factors may be targeted in future lifestyle interventions to reduce cognitive decline.
Source: SLEEP
Institutions: Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Gerontology Research Center Foundation, Oregon Health & Science University, Karolinska University Hospital, Tampere University, University of Tampere, University of Eastern Finland, Imperial College London, Jönköping University
Language: English
Topic: Sleep and related disorders
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,018
Awards: G1101619023, G1166317235, G1168103418, G1172252064, G1598987431, G1916951529, Sleep and Biomarkers - From Aging to Alzheimer’s Disease (SPIRE): An Innovative Multi-Modal Research Approach., G2522920215, G2533889179, Nordic-Japan multidomain interventions for healthy aging and prevention of dementia and disability (NJ-FINGERS), G2822918226, Evaluation of Multivariate Causal Factors Linking the Flynn Effect to Declining Dementia Trends and Cognitive Aging, National E-infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR/2023-2028), The Brain Health Toolbox: Facilitating personalized decision-making for effective dementia prevention, G3515813156, G3623051260, G3978352386, G4137176464, Mental and cognitive health in relation to functional ability and somatic health in the elderly. The influence of age, sex, birth cohort, genetic, psychological, social and neurobiological factors., NEAR: The National E-infrastructure for Aging Research in Sweden, G5247502409, G525443564, The baby-boomers and the new ageing. Birth cohorts born 1901-1944 are followed from age 70 to 75 regarding how physical, mental, cognitive, social, and functional ability changes with age, G5784447569, G5987387215, G6196845781, G6518653969, G715583117, G760388184, G7735127009, Long-lasting cognitive and olfactory deficits following mild COVID-19 – modifying factors, brain correlates, and prognostic impact for well-being and daily functioning
OpenAlex ID: W4386730800