Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sleep Science
• Immigrant Health

Background:

• Sleep and circadian health are vital for aging populations, impacting physical frailty and cognitive function.
• Zeroth-generation immigrants, older adults reuniting with family in the US, face unique integration challenges and rely on family support.
• Little research addresses the sleep-frailty-cognition link in this specific demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationships between sleep/circadian rhythms and frailty/cognition in older Chinese immigrants in the US.
• To compare sleep health and its associations with frailty and cognition between zeroth-generation and first-generation immigrants.
• To explore the mediating role of acculturative stress in these relationships.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of 200+ participants aged 65+ years.
• Objective sleep/activity monitoring via actigraphy watches (10 days) and sleep diaries.
• Comprehensive assessments including questionnaires (demographics, lifestyle, stress, health), cognitive tests (MMSE, memory, executive function), and physical measurements (grip strength, walking speed).

Main Results:

• Zeroth-generation immigrants are anticipated to exhibit poorer sleep quality, shorter duration, increased daytime sleepiness, and disrupted rest-activity rhythms compared to first-generation immigrants.
• Higher prevalence of frailty and worse cognitive performance are expected in zeroth-generation immigrants.
• Stronger associations between poor sleep health, frailty, and cognitive decline are hypothesized, potentially mediated by acculturative stress.

Conclusions:

• This study will offer novel insights into sleep and circadian health challenges among zeroth-generation Chinese immigrants.
• Findings will highlight the impact of these challenges on physical frailty and cognitive aging.
• Results will inform culturally sensitive interventions and policies to promote health equity for this vulnerable group.