Cognitive and affective functions associated with insomnia: a population-based study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sleep Medicine
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Insomnia prevalence is rising in aging populations.
• The impact of insomnia on cognitive, affective, and daily living functions remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between insomnia and cognitive, affective, and activities of daily living (ADL) functions in a super-aged community.
• To identify sex and age-specific differences in the manifestation of insomnia's effects.

Main Methods:

• 142 residents of a super-aged community completed health check-ups, including cognitive, affective, and ADL assessments.
• Participants were categorized into two groups based on Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores (≤3 and ≥4).
• Cognitive, affective, and ADL functions were compared between AIS subgroups, stratified by sex and age.

Main Results:

• Subjective insomnia (AIS ≥4) was present in 36.2% of participants, more common in females.
• No cognitive function differences were observed between AIS subgroups.
• Higher Geriatric Depression Scale scores were found in the insomnia group (both sexes); higher Apathy Scale scores were noted in males with insomnia.
• Daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in females (especially ≥75 years), correlating with lower Trail Making Test scores in this subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Insomnia affects 36.2% of individuals in a Japanese super-aged community.
• Insomnia is associated with increased depressive symptoms (both sexes) and apathy (males).
• Older females (≥75 years) with insomnia frequently experience daytime sleepiness, potentially linked to attention and executive function decline.