Correlation between Sleep Time, Sleep Quality, and Emotional and Cognitive Function in the Elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Cognitive decline and emotional disturbances are prevalent in the elderly.
• Sleep disturbances are common in older adults and may impact cognitive and emotional health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between sleep parameters (time and quality) and emotional and cognitive function in elderly individuals.
• To compare sleep quality and cognitive function between elderly patients with and without cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• 150 elderly patients (≥65 years) were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD).
• Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), alongside tests for visual-spatial execution and attention.
• Pearson correlation analysis was employed to determine associations between sleep quality, sleep duration, and emotional/cognitive measures.

Main Results:

• Patients with cognitive impairment exhibited significantly poorer sleep quality, longer sleep onset latency, and reduced sleep efficiency compared to those without impairment.
• Cognitive impairment was associated with lower MoCA scores, visual-spatial execution, and attention, but higher delayed recall.
• Poorer sleep quality (higher PSQI scores) and increased daytime dysfunction (higher ESS scores) correlated with worse cognitive function (lower MoCA and MMSE scores) and increased anxiety and depression (higher HAMA and HAMD scores).

Conclusions:

• Sleep quality and duration are positively correlated with cognitive function in the elderly.
• Worsening sleep quality is linked to diminished cognitive function and more severe anxiety and depression.
• Clinical interventions should prioritize improving sleep quality in elderly patients to support cognitive and emotional health.