Study Reveals Connection Between Daytime Fatigue and Dementia
Feeling sleepy during daily activities as you age? This might indicate a higher risk of conditions leading to dementia, according to a new study published in Neurology. The study found that 35.5% of participants who reported excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of motivation developed motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), compared to just 6.7% of those who did not experience these issues. MCR, characterized by slow walking speeds and memory complaints in older adults who do not yet have dementia or severe mobility issues, more than doubles the risk of developing dementia.
The researchers studied 445 adults, with an average age of 76, from New York’s Westchester County as part of the Central Control of Mobility and Aging study. Participants were assessed yearly from 2011 to 2018, including their gait measurements on treadmills and their perceived sleep quality and duration using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Over approximately three years of follow-up, 36 participants developed MCR. The study found that poor sleepers had a slightly increased risk of MCR, but only daytime dysfunction was significantly associated with a 3.3 times higher risk.
Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, suggested that these findings could encourage more proactive discussions between doctors and patients about sleep patterns and early indicators of cognitive decline, such as walking speeds. However, the study had limitations, including reliance on self-reported sleep data and a predominantly white sample. Dr. Tara Spires-Jones from the University of Edinburgh emphasized the need for further research to validate these results.
Motoric cognitive risk syndrome is still relatively new, and much is unknown about its causes and effects. Dr. Victoire Leroy from Tours University Hospital in France highlighted that sleep is crucial for clearing neurotoxins from the brain, and poor sleep has been linked to increased Alzheimer’s-related proteins. The study underscores the importance of addressing sleep issues early, as understanding the connection between sleep dysfunction and MCR could be vital for dementia prevention.
If you find this research relevant, discussing your sleep patterns with your healthcare provider might be a wise step to protect your cognitive health.
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