Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Better Subjective Sleep Quality Partly Explains the Association Between Self-Reported Physical Activity and Better
Boris Cheval1,2, Silvio Maltagliati3, Stefan Sieber4,5
1Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Regular physical activity is linked to better sleep quality, which in turn improves cognitive function in older adults. This study confirms sleep quality as a key mediator in this relationship.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Physical activity is known to benefit cognitive function and sleep quality.
- The indirect pathway through which physical activity influences cognition via sleep remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if sleep quality mediates the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in adults aged 50 and above.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 86,541 European adults, with self-reported physical activity and sleep quality.
- Assessed cognitive function (immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency) using objective tests over six time points (2004-2017).
- Employed multilevel mediation analyses to test the mediating role of sleep quality.
Main Results:
- Physical activity positively correlated with sleep quality.
- Improved sleep quality was associated with enhanced performance in all cognitive function tests.
- Sleep quality significantly mediated the association between physical activity and cognitive function, particularly for delayed recall (8.88%).
Conclusions:
- Self-reported sleep quality partially mediates the link between physical activity and cognitive function in older adults.
- Further research using device-based objective data for physical activity and sleep is recommended to validate these findings.
More Related Videos
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...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Primary Motives: Sleep, Sex, and Pain Avoidance
Sleep is a fundamental physiological drive that fosters a state of restfulness crucial for several bodily functions. It facilitates body restoration, the process by which the body repairs, rejuvenates, and maintains itself during sleep, including memory...

