Abstract
0344 Association Between Sleep Regularity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Sleep (New York, N.Y.), Vol.48(Supplement_1), pp.A150-A150
05/19/2025
DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0344
Abstract
Introduction
Sleep changes are common as people age, with nearly 50% of older adults experiencing sleep-related difficulties. Poor sleep quality negatively impacts cognition; however, much of the existing research has relied on self-reported sleep questionnaires instead of objectively assessing different sleep characteristics and has utilized only global cognitive screening tools. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the association between sleep regularity (i.e., the consistency of sleep timing across multiple nights) assessed by actigraphy and cognitive function in older adults. The secondary aim is to explore the association between wake after sleep onset (WASO) and cognitive function in this population.
Methods
Fifty-seven older adults with no clinically identified cognitive impairment diagnosis (mean age = 70±7.3 years, 56.3% female, mean years of education = 16.1±3.4) participated in the study. Sleep parameters, including sleep regularity and WASO (mean ± SD = 44.16±24.01 minutes), were objectively measured using actigraphy over a 14-day period. A clinical neuropsychological battery was administered to assess cognitive function across multiple domains, including immediate memory, delayed memory, visual spatial ability, executive function, attention, and processing speed. Multiple regression analyses, adjusted for age, gender, and education, were conducted to examine the association between each sleep parameter and cognitive performance on the six domains.
Results
No significant associations were found between sleep regularity and any cognitive domain. In line with previous research emphasizing sleep quality and continuity, lower WASO was associated with improved immediate memory performance (β = -0.118, p = 0.006).
Conclusion
These findings indicate that sleep regularity was not significantly associated with cognitive functions in older adults. Consistent with previous research, sleep continuity indicators appear to be more closely linked to cognitive functions. These results highlighted the importance of prioritizing interventions that improve sleep quality and continuity over regularity for cognitive benefits in aging populations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- 0344 Association Between Sleep Regularity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
- Creators
- Meina Zhang - University of IowaCarinda Linkenmeyer - University of IowaKarin Hoth - University of IowaLinlin Ding - University of IowaChooza Moon - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Sleep (New York, N.Y.), Vol.48(Supplement_1), pp.A150-A150
- Publisher
- Oxford Academic
- DOI
- 10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0344
- ISSN
- 0161-8105
- eISSN
- 1550-9109
- Grant note
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science: NIH/ACTS KL2TR002536 Barbara and Richard Csomay Center of Gerontological Excellence at the University of Iowa College of NursingGraduate College Post-Comprehensive Research Fellowship
This work was supported by the University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH/ACTS KL2TR002536, PI: Bassuk, Scholar: Moon), the Barbara and Richard Csomay Center of Gerontological Excellence at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, and the Graduate College Post-Comprehensive Research Fellowship.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/19/2025
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Nursing
- Record Identifier
- 9984824328702771
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