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Association Between Sleep Problems and Perceived Cognitive Dysfunction Over 12 Months in Individuals with Multiple
Abbey J Hughes1,2, Aaron P Turner1,2, Kevin N Alschuler1,3
1a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington , USA.
Poor sleep is linked to cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, even when accounting for depression. Fatigue partially explains this connection, highlighting sleep quality
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are common in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- The link between sleep issues and cognitive problems in MS is not well understood.
- This study focuses on MS patients experiencing depression, fatigue, or pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sleep problems and cognitive dysfunction in individuals with MS.
- To determine if fatigue mediates the association between sleep and cognitive function in MS.
Main Methods:
- 163 individuals with MS completed self-report measures over 12 months.
- Assessments included sleep quality, cognitive function, depression, pain, and fatigue.
- Mixed-effects regression analysis was used to examine the relationships.
Main Results:
- Poorer sleep was independently associated with worse perceived cognitive dysfunction (β = -0.05, p = .001).
- This association remained significant even after controlling for depressive symptoms.
- Fatigue impact partially mediated the relationship between sleep problems and cognitive dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Self-reported sleep problems are related to perceived cognitive dysfunction in MS patients with depression, fatigue, or pain.
- Fatigue plays a partial role in this relationship, suggesting a complex interplay of symptoms.
- Improving sleep may be a potential target for managing cognitive difficulties in this population.
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