Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Sleep quality and memory function in healthy ageing
T Cruz1, L García2, M A Álvarez3
1Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Objective:
To study the relationship between sleep quality and memory in healthy ageing.
Methods:
The study included 99 people older than 50 years (69 women and 30 men; mean age, 68.74 ± 7.18 years) with no associated diseases. Patients completed digital versions of the Word Learning (WL) and Visual Paired Associates (VPA) tests and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire to assess the quality of sleep.
Results:
PSQI score was negatively correlated with VPA and WL test performance. Performance in these 2 memory tests decreased in line with sleep quality. In addition, performance in VPA test was negatively correlated with subjective sleep quality, duration, and sleep disturbances. Performance on the WL test was negatively correlated with subjective sleep quality and efficiency. Participants' sex showed a weak effect on VPA performance and sleep latency.
Conclusions:
Medical professionals working with elderly patients should take into consideration the effect of poor sleep quality on memory. Cognitive impairment in these patients may be a manifestation of a neuroendocrine imbalance due to a disrupted circadian rhythm. More research is needed to prove this hypothesis.
More Related Videos
04:33Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
08:08Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
Published on: June 18, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge: