Older individuals who experience daytime sleepiness or a diminished enthusiasm for daily activities due to sleep disturbances may be more susceptible to developing a syndrome that potentially precedes dementia, as revealed by a study published in the November 6, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
This syndrome, known as motoric cognitive risk syndrome, is characterised by slow walking speeds and self-reported memory concerns, though not to the extent of having a mobility disability or diagnosed dementia. The condition represents a preliminary stage that could evolve into dementia.
The research indicated that those who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of motivation are more likely to develop this syndrome than those without such sleep-related problems. However, it’s crucial to note that the study did not establish a causal relationship but merely an association between these factors.
Dr. Victoire Leroy, MD, PhD, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, stressed the importance of screening for sleep issues. Dr Leroy suggested that addressing sleep problems might help mitigate cognitive decline in later life.
The study involved 445 participants, the average age of whom was 76, none of whom had dementia. At the outset, participants underwent sleep questionnaires and were evaluated for memory issues and walking speed using a treadmill. These assessments were repeated annually over an average of three years.
The sleep assessment included questions about difficulties such as waking up during the night, inability to fall asleep within 30 minutes, discomfort due to temperature, and using sleep medications. The researchers also evaluated daytime sleepiness by asking participants about their ability to stay awake during activities such as driving, eating, or socialising. They also gauged enthusiasm levels by asking about difficulties maintaining sufficient motivation to complete tasks.
Of the participants, 177 were classified as poor and 268 as good. At the start of the study, 42 participants were identified with motoric cognitive risk syndrome, and another 36 developed the syndrome during the study’s duration.
The findings revealed that 35.5% of participants with excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of enthusiasm developed the syndrome, in contrast to only 6.7% without these issues. After adjusting for other risk factors such as age, depression, and health conditions, the study found that individuals with these sleep-related problems were over three times more likely to develop the syndrome than those without them.
Dr. Leroy emphasised the need for further research to explore the relationship between sleep disturbances, motoric cognitive risk syndrome, and cognitive decline. The study calls for additional investigations to understand the mechanisms linking sleep disturbances with cognitive risks and the potential progression to cognitive decline.
More information: Victoire Leroy et al, Association of Sleep Disturbances With Prevalent and Incident Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome in Community-Residing Older Adults, Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000210054
Journal information: Neurology Provided by American Academy of Neurology
