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Polysomnographic parameters associated with cognitive function in patients with major depression and insomnia
Carlos Olivera-López1,2, Alejandro Jiménez-Genchi3, David Ortega-Robles3
1Laboratory of Sleep Disorders, Faculty of Psychology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
CNS Spectrums
|April 30, 2024
Summary
Objective sleep duration and depth positively impact cognitive function in major depressive disorder (MDD) with chronic insomnia (CI). Poor sleep maintenance negatively affects cognition, but disorder severity does not correlate with cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) and chronic insomnia (CI) frequently co-occur, significantly impacting patients' quality of life.
- Cognitive dysfunction is a common and debilitating symptom in patients with MDD, often exacerbated by comorbid CI.
- Understanding the relationship between objective sleep parameters and cognitive function (CF) is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between objective sleep parameters, measured by polysomnography (PSG), and cognitive function in patients with MDD and CI.
- To determine if the severity of MDD and CI correlates with cognitive function in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Thirty patients diagnosed with MDD and CI underwent two nights of PSG monitoring.
- A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests assessed episodic memory, sustained attention, working memory, and executive function.
- Clinical scales were used to evaluate the severity of MDD and CI.
Main Results:
- Total sleep time (TST) was positively correlated with episodic memory (learning and recall) and attention.
- Slow-wave sleep (SWS) demonstrated a positive association with improved working memory.
- Wake after sleep onset (WASO) was negatively associated with episodic memory and attention.
- No significant relationship was found between the severity of MDD or CI and cognitive function.
Conclusions:
- Objective measures of sleep duration and depth are significantly associated with various aspects of cognitive function in patients with MDD and CI.
- Impaired sleep maintenance, indicated by increased WASO, is linked to poorer cognitive performance.
- These findings highlight sleep parameters as potential modifiable targets for improving cognitive deficits in this clinical population.
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