Minimum pulse rate during sleep as a MMSE-associated factor: a multifaceted exploratory study in older adults without...

Developing quantitative indicators of daily life that detect subtle cognitive decline is an important challenge in today's growing population of older adults worldwide. In this study, we aimed to explore novel candidates for indicators associated with subtle abnormalities in brief dementia screening test.

In this multifaceted cross-sectional study, data were collected from 35 older adults who had not been certified for long-term care or diagnosed with cognitive impairment using questionnaires, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), body composition measurements, sleep apnoea testing, activity monitoring, motor function assessments, blood tests, and nutrient analyses. Of the 89 factors examined in this study, several less invasive indicators for cognitive impairment were identified using Spearman's correlation analysis, two-group comparison, and multiple linear regression model analysis.

An increased minimum pulse rate during sleep was found to be the most important non-invasive marker associated with both the correlation with MMSE scores and the risk classification of cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia).

The minimum pulse rate during sleep is easily detectable owing to recent developments and widespread use of wearable devices. The results of this study will not only provide opportunities for older adults and their families to recognise slight cognitive decline but will also contribute to the early detection of cognitive decline, as a guide for the development of research evaluating the detection sensitivity and specificity of these indicators.