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Cognitive Performance Trajectories Before and After Sleep Treatment Initiation in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Results From the Health and Retirement Study
Published Web Location
https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab164Abstract
Background
Sleep disturbances are associated with risk of cognitive decline but it is not clear if treating disturbed sleep mitigates decline. We examined differences in cognitive trajectories before and after sleep treatment initiation.Method
Data came from the 2006-2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). At each of 5 waves, participants were administered cognitive assessments and scores were summed. Participants also reported if, in prior 2 weeks, they had taken medications or used other treatments to improve sleep. Our sample (N = 3 957) included individuals who at HRS 2006 were 50 years and older, had no cognitive impairment, reported no sleep treatment, and indicated experiencing sleep disturbance. We identified differences between those receiving versus not receiving treatment in subsequent waves and, among those treated (n = 1 247), compared cognitive trajectories before and after treatment.Results
At baseline, those reporting sleep treatment at subsequent waves were more likely to be younger, female, Caucasian, to have more health conditions, to have higher body mass index, and more depressive symptoms (all ps ≤ .015). Decline in cognitive performance was mitigated in periods after sleep treatment versus periods before (B = -0.20, 95% CI = [-0.25, -0.15], p < .001 vs B = -0.26, 95% CI = [-0.32, -0.20], p < .001), and this same trend was seen for self-initiated and doctor-recommended treatments. Trends were driven by those with higher baseline cognitive performance-those with lower performance saw cognitive declines following sleep treatment.Conclusions
In middle-aged and older adults with sleep disturbance, starting sleep treatment may slow cognitive decline. Future research should assess types, combinations, and timing of treatments most effective in improving cognitive health in later life.Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.
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