Key result
Mild cognitive impairment without melatonin use was associated with lower parasympathetic sleep-wake amplitude compared to controls without melatonin (RMSSD -7 vs 4, p=0.004).
Why the study?
The study sought to assess sleep-wake differences of autonomic activity in patients with mild cognitive impairment compared to control subjects, and evaluate the mediating effect of melatonin.
Does melatonin treatment improve sleep-wake autonomic activity in patients with mild cognitive impairment?
Observational (n=34)
Does melatonin treatment improve sleep-wake autonomic activity in patients with mild cognitive impairment?
Exogenous melatonin may have a protective effect on sleep-related parasympathetic vulnerability in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Association in cross-sectional data suggests possible melatonin-related preservation; leaves open causal effects on autonomic function in MCI.
Purpose: The objective of the present study was to assess sleep-wake differences of autonomic activity in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to control subjects. As a post-hoc objective, we sought to evaluate the mediating effect of melatonin on this association. Patients and Methods: A total of 22 MCI patients (13 under melatonin treatment) and 12 control subjects were included in this study. Sleep-wake periods were identified by actigraphy and 24hr-heart rate variability measures were obtained to study sleep-wake autonomic activity. Results: MCI patients did not show any significant differences in sleep-wake autonomic activity when compared to control subjects. Post-hoc analyses revealed that MCI patients not taking melatonin displayed lower parasympathetic sleep-wake amplitude than controls not taking melatonin (RMSSD -7 ± 1 vs 4 ± 4, p = 0.004). In addition, we observed that melatonin treatment was associated with greater parasympathetic activity during sleep (VLF 15.5 ± 0.1 vs 15.1 ± 0.1, p = 0.010) and in sleep-wake differences in MCI patients (VLF 0.5 ± 0.1 vs 0.2 ± 0.0, p = 0.004). Conclusion: These preliminary findings hint at a possible sleep-related parasympathetic vulnerability in patients at prodromal stages of dementia as well as a potential protective effect of exogenous melatonin in this population.
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Abulafia et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Mild cognitive impairment (n=34). Mild cognitive impairment vs. Control subjects was evaluated on Sleep-wake differences of autonomic activity. Mild cognitive impairment without melatonin use was associated with lower parasympathetic sleep-wake amplitude compared to controls without melatonin (RMSSD -7 vs 4, p=0.004).
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