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Causal relationship between sleep traits and cognitive impairment: A Mendelian randomization study
Qing Wang1,2, Shihan Xu1,2, Fenglan Liu3
1The Second Department of Geriatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
|December 18, 2023
Summary
Genetically predicted shorter sleep duration, increased daytime sleepiness, and more daytime napping are linked to poorer cognitive function. These sleep traits may be targets for preventing cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Observational studies suggest a correlation between sleep disturbances and cognitive decline.
- The causal relationship between sleep traits and cognitive impairment requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal association between genetically predicted sleep traits and cognitive impairment.
- Utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Selected genetic variants from European ancestry Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for sleep traits (insomnia, sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, napping, chronotype).
- Derived summary statistics for cognitive impairment from five GWAS.
- Employed inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods with sensitivity analyses.
Main Results:
- Genetically predicted shorter sleep duration was associated with slower reaction time.
- Increased daytime sleepiness correlated with reduced average cortical thickness.
- More daytime napping was linked to lower fluid intelligence and hippocampal volume.
Conclusions:
- Sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and daytime napping are potential targets for cognitive impairment prevention.
- These sleep patterns may serve as early markers for cognitive impairment risk.
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