Association between sleep and working memory in children with ADHD: a cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Sleep problems are frequently reported in children with ADHD, potentially impacting cognitive functions.
• Working memory is a critical cognitive skill often affected in ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sleep problems and working memory in children diagnosed with ADHD.
• To determine if the severity and type of sleep issues relate to working memory performance.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 189 children (aged 5-13 years) with ADHD was analyzed from a randomized controlled trial.
• Sleep problems were assessed using parent (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire) and self-reports (Self-Sleep Report).
• Working memory was measured using the Working Memory Test Battery for Children, with adjustments for covariates.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse relationship was found between self-reported sleep problem severity and working memory scores (p=0.01).
• Each standard deviation increase in self-reported sleep problems correlated with a -3.8 point decrease in working memory.
• Self-reported sleep issues showed an association with low (p=0.06) and very low (p=0.01) working memory, while parent reports showed minimal association except for bedtime resistance.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral sleep problems are demonstrably linked to working memory deficits in children with ADHD.
• The association between sleep problems and working memory is more pronounced when sleep is assessed via self-report.