Associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration and self-reported sleep difficulties with cognitive function in late mid-life: The Finnish Retirement and Aging Study

With the population aging, prevalence of cognitive deficits is increasing. To suppress this increase it is crucial to detect underlying risk factors behind cognitive deficits and enable primary prevention early enough in the life-course. Previous studies have suggested that sleep duration and sleep difficulties are associated with cognition in old age, but little is known of this association in the late mid-life. The aim of this study is to examine the associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration and self-reported sleep difficulties with different domains of cognition among aging workers. The study population (N=289) consists of participants of the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA). Sleep duration was measured with wrist-worn accelerometers, and the participants were divided into short (<7h/night), mid-range (7-9h/night) and long sleepers (≥9h/night). Sleep difficulties were evaluated with Jenkin’s Sleep Problem Scale (difficulties falling asleep, difficulties maintaining sleep, waking up too early in the morning, and nonrestorative sleep). The participants also underwent comprehensive cognitive testing including computer-based cognitive tests. The cognitive tests were grouped to cover three cognitive domains: 1) memory, 2) executive function, and 3) attention and information processing. Greater difficulties in waking up too early in the morning and nonrestorative sleep were associated with poorer executive function. Compared to mid-range and short sleepers, long sleepers tended to have poorer cognitive function, but the associations were not statistically significant. These results suggest that sleep difficulties are associated with poorer cognitive function, and therefore promoting better sleep quality may translate into better cognitive health in late mid-life

Association of sleep with cognitive function during retirement transition : the Whitehall II study

Study Objectives Sleep duration and difficulties have been shown to associate with cognitive function. This study examined how changes in sleep and in cognitive function are associated during retirement transition. Methods The study population consisted of 2980 Whitehall II study participants, who retired during the follow-up, whose sleep was queried, and cognitive function measured (inductive reasoning and verbal memory) before and after retirement (follow-up 16 years). Using the last information on sleep before and the first after retirement, participants were categorized into constantly without (59%), increasing (13%), decreasing (11%), and constantly with (18%) sleep difficulties; and constantly short (26%), increasing (19%), decreasing (8.5%), and constantly mid-range (47%) sleep duration. Change in cognitive function during retirement transition was examined by sleep change groups using linear regression analyses with generalized estimating equations. Results More pronounced decline in inductive reasoning during retirement transition was observed among participants with increasing sleep difficulties (-1.96, 95% CI -2.52 to -1.41) compared to those constantly without sleep difficulties (-1.25, 95% CI -1.52 to -0.98) and constantly with sleep difficulties (-1.26, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.92). Decreasing sleep difficulties (-0.64, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.43) were associated with a more pronounced decline in verbal memory when compared to constantly without sleep difficulties (-0.42, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.32) in post-retirement period. No statistically significant differences across sleep duration groups in cognitive function were observed. Conclusions Increasing and decreasing sleep difficulties may be associated with accelerated decline in cognitive function during retirement transition and post-retirement.Peer reviewe

Association of sleep with cognitive function during retirement transition : the Whitehall II study

Study Objectives Sleep duration and difficulties have been shown to associate with cognitive function. This study examined how changes in sleep and in cognitive function are associated during retirement transition. Methods The study population consisted of 2980 Whitehall II study participants, who retired during the follow-up, whose sleep was queried, and cognitive function measured (inductive reasoning and verbal memory) before and after retirement (follow-up 16 years). Using the last information on sleep before and the first after retirement, participants were categorized into constantly without (59%), increasing (13%), decreasing (11%), and constantly with (18%) sleep difficulties; and constantly short (26%), increasing (19%), decreasing (8.5%), and constantly mid-range (47%) sleep duration. Change in cognitive function during retirement transition was examined by sleep change groups using linear regression analyses with generalized estimating equations. Results More pronounced decline in inductive reasoning during retirement transition was observed among participants with increasing sleep difficulties (-1.96, 95% CI -2.52 to -1.41) compared to those constantly without sleep difficulties (-1.25, 95% CI -1.52 to -0.98) and constantly with sleep difficulties (-1.26, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.92). Decreasing sleep difficulties (-0.64, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.43) were associated with a more pronounced decline in verbal memory when compared to constantly without sleep difficulties (-0.42, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.32) in post-retirement period. No statistically significant differences across sleep duration groups in cognitive function were observed. Conclusions Increasing and decreasing sleep difficulties may be associated with accelerated decline in cognitive function during retirement transition and post-retirement.Peer reviewe

Association of sleep with cognitive function during retirement transition: the Whitehall II study

Study objectives: Sleep duration and difficulties have been shown to associate with cognitive function. This study examined how changes in sleep and in cognitive function are associated during retirement transition.Methods: The study population consisted of 2,980 Whitehall II study participants, who retired during the follow-up, whose sleep was queried, and cognitive function measured (inductive reasoning and verbal memory) before and after retirement (follow-up 16 years). Using the last information on sleep before and the first after retirement, participants were categorized into constantly without (59%), increasing (13%), decreasing (11%), and constantly with (18%) sleep difficulties; and constantly short (26%), increasing (19%), decreasing (8.5%), and constantly mid-range (47%) sleep duration. Change in cognitive function during retirement transition was examined by sleep change groups using linear regression analyses with generalized estimating equations.Results: More pronounced decline in inductive reasoning during retirement transition was observed among participants with increasing sleep difficulties (-1.96, 95%CI -2.52 to -1.41) compared to those constantly without sleep difficulties (-1.25, 95%CI -1.52 to -0.98) and constantly with sleep difficulties (-1.26, 95%CI -1.75 to -0.92). Decreasing sleep difficulties (-0.64, 95%CI -0.86 to -0.43) were associated with a more pronounced decline in verbal memory when compared to constantly without sleep difficulties (-0.42, 95%CI -0.52 to -0.32) in post-retirement period. No statistically significant differences across sleep duration groups in cognitive function were observed.Conclusion: Increasing and decreasing sleep difficulties may be associated with accelerated decline in cognitive function during retirement transition and post-retirement.</p

Associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration and self-reported sleep difficulties with cognitive function in late mid-life: The Finnish Retirement and Aging Study

ObjectivesPrior evidence suggests that sleep duration and sleep difficulties may be associated with cognitive function in old age, but little is known about the sleep–cognition association in late mid-life. Our aim was to examine the associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration as well as subjective sleep difficulties with different domains of cognitive function among aging workers.MethodsThe study population consisted of 289 participants (mean age 62.4 years, SD 1.02; 83% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA). Sleep difficulties were measured using Jenkins Sleep Problem Scale (difficulties falling asleep, difficulties maintaining sleep, waking up too early in the morning, and nonrestorative sleep). Sleep duration was measured with wrist-worn accelerometer and self-report, and participants were divided into short (ResultsGreater difficulties in waking up too early in the morning were associated with poorer executive function measured with Spatial Working Memory (SWM) test (p = 0.005). Additionally, nonrestorative sleep was associated with poorer executive function measured with Trail Making Test, B–A, (p = 0.036) and borderline significantly with lower SWM (p = 0.056). Compared to mid-range sleepers, long sleepers tended to have poorer cognitive function (all memory function tests and SWM), but the associations were not statistically significant due to small number of long sleepers.ConclusionsSubjective sleep difficulties may be linked to poorer executive function in a relatively healthy population of older workers in their 60 s. Thus, promoting good sleep quality may translate into better cognitive health in late mid-life.</div

The association of previous night's sleep duration with cognitive function among older adults : a pooled analysis of three Finnish cohorts

Study objectives: Sleep duration has been shown to associate with cognitive function, but little is known about the short-term effect of sleep duration on the previous night. This study examines how usual sleep duration and previous night’s sleep duration are associated with cognitive function in older adults. Methods: The study population consisted of 2949 adults aged 59–92 years (mean 72.6, SD 5.7) derived from three Finnish cohorts. Participants’ self-reported usual sleep duration was categorized into short (< 7 h, 19%), mid-range (7– < 9 h, 64%), and long (≥ 9 h, 17%). Self-reported sleep duration on the night prior to cognitive testing was categorized into shorter (59%), same (35%), and longer (5.9%) than usual sleep duration. Computerized Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB®) was used to assess: (1) learning and memory, (2) working memory, (3) information processing, and (4) reaction time. Results: Participants with self-reported long, but not short, usual sleep duration had poorer learning and memory (p =.004), information processing (p =.003), and reaction time (p =.006) when compared to those with mid-range sleep duration. Those who slept more than usually the night prior to cognitive testing had poorer information processing (p =.019) than those sleeping the same as usually, while sleeping less than usually was not associated with cognitive function. Conclusions: This study suggests that while long sleep duration was associated with worse cognitive function, sleeping more than usually the night prior to cognitive testing was only associated with information processing, and sleeping less than usually is not associated with cognitive function.Peer reviewe