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Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
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Biomarkers
Shuo Qin1, Eric Kwun Kei Ng1, ChunSiong Soon1
1National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|December 24, 2025
Summary
Poor sleep quality and reduced brain volume in older adults mutually impact cognitive function. This bidirectional relationship highlights how gray matter atrophy and fragmented sleep negatively affect memory and executive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Sleep fragmentation and irregularity are linked to cognitive decline in older adults.
- Reduced cognitive performance is associated with decreased brain volumes, particularly cortical gray matter and hippocampal volumes.
- Mechanisms linking sleep, brain volume, and cognition remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional mediation effects of sleep and brain volume on cognitive performance.
- To explore the interplay between sleep patterns, brain structure, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Oura ring data to assess sleep patterns in 800 older adults.
- Administered a comprehensive neurocognitive battery to assess cognitive performance.
- Employed partial least squares correlation (PLSC) and mediation analyses on MRI data from 467 participants to examine relationships between sleep, brain volumes (gray matter, hippocampus), and cognition.
Main Results:
- A sleep profile characterized by high regularity and low fragmentation correlated with better cognitive performance.
- Brain volume partially mediated the relationship between sleep and cognition.
- Sleep partially mediated the relationship between brain volume and cognition, indicating a bidirectional influence.
Conclusions:
- A bidirectional, though small, mediation effect exists between gray matter volume and sleep quality.
- Gray matter atrophy and irregular/fragmented sleep interact to negatively impact cognitive function in older adults.
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