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Breathing disorders during sleep and cognitive performance in an older community sample: the EVA Study
M J Dealberto1, N Pajot, D Courbon
1Unité 360 Recherches Epidémiologiques en Neurologie et Psychopathologie, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Snoring and breathing stoppage during sleep, common in older adults, are linked to poorer cognitive function, particularly in visual attention skills. These sleep disturbances may be risk factors for cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Sleep apnea syndrome, characterized by snoring and breathing cessation during sleep, affects a significant portion of the older population.
- Cognitive decline is a growing concern in aging populations, and its association with sleep disorders requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome (snoring, breathing stoppage) and cognitive performance in older adults.
- To identify potential risk factors for poor cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the EVA Study, a cohort of 1389 individuals aged 60-70 years in Nantes, France.
- Data collection included questionnaires on sleep habits, daytime sleepiness, and lifestyle factors, alongside objective measurements of height and weight.
- Cognitive function was assessed using eight standardized neuropsychological tests, and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of the participants (49.5%) reported snoring, and 10.8% reported breathing stoppage during sleep, both associated with male gender and higher BMI.
- Breathing stoppage was linked to depressive symptoms in women.
- Snoring and breathing stoppage, particularly when accompanied by daytime sleepiness, were significantly associated with lower scores on tests of visual attention (Trail Making Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test).
Conclusions:
- Snoring and breathing stoppage during sleep, when associated with daytime sleepiness, are identified as potential risk factors for diminished cognitive performance in visual attention skills among older adults.
- These findings highlight the importance of addressing sleep-disordered breathing in the elderly to potentially mitigate cognitive decline.