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Abstract Introduction Sleep quality is a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias due to the role it plays in removal of beta-amyloid and tau from the brain during sleep. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to examine the association between cognition and domains of sleep health in older adults at baseline and over time. Methods Older adults (≥60 years) underwent comprehensive sleep and cognition assessments as part of annual evaluations for a longitudinal cohort study about dementia risk factors. Participants completed self-reported (Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and objective (wrist-worn actigraphy) sleep assessments. Definitions for poor, moderate, and good sleep health were established based on composite scores derived from self-report only and from self-report plus actigraphy data using the RuSATED model. Verbal memory, attention, and executive function factors were measured annually. The relationship between composite sleep health scores and cognition factors at baseline and follow-up visits were assessed using linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, and education. Results Among participants with available self-reported sleep health at baseline (N=174), 44.3% and 6.9% had moderate and poor sleep health, respectively. For those with actigraphy-informed sleep health at baseline (N=177), 56.5% and 11.9% had moderate and poor sleep health, respectively. Cross-sectional analyses revealed that participants with actigraphy-informed poor sleep health had lower performance on verbal memory (β SE = -0.58 0.29, p = 0.045) and on executive function (β SE = -0.48 0.18, p = 0.009). No significant relationships between self-reported or actigraphy-informed sleep health and cognition factors were found in longitudinal analyses. Conclusion Participants with actigraphy-informed poor sleep health exhibited worse verbal memory and executive function at baseline. These findings underscore the potential influence of sleep health on specific cognitive functions, offering valuable insights for future research and clinical implications in the intersection of sleep health and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Support (if any) NIA P30AG035982; General Faculty Research Fund (University of Kansas)
Blankenship et al. (Sat,) studied this question.