Researchers show a link between poor sleep between the ages of 30 and 40 and poor cognitive performance, that is, problems with memory and thinking, around the age of 50.
- People whose sleep was most disrupted between ages 30 and 40 were more than twice as likely to have poor cognitive performance in their 50s.
- The quality of sleep is more important than the quantity according to the authors.
- Ultimately, they intend to continue their work to perhaps identify periods of life where sleep has a greater impact.
One in ten French people say they experience memory problems fairly/very frequently, according to a Odoxa survey. This represents no less than 6 million French adults.
A link between sleep and memory
Sleep is very important for memory. In the short term, it allows, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), to improve memorization capacity. Long-term, Inserm adds that several studies have shown a link between sleep disorders and impaired cognitive abilities.
In this sense, researchers have just published a new study which shows a link between sleep quality and memory problems. Their work appeared in the journal Neurology.
“Signs of Alzheimer’s disease begin to accumulate in the brain decades before symptoms appear, understanding the link between sleep and [les performances cognitives] is essential to understand sleep problems as a risk factor for the diseaseexplain Yue Lengone of the authors, in a communicated. Our results indicate that it is the quality of sleep rather than the quantity that is most important for cognitive health.“
To achieve this result, scientists followed more than 500 people with an average age of 40 for 11 years. They analyzed the duration and quality of their sleep using an activity monitor that they wore on their wrist twice for three days one year apart. At the same time, they had to indicate their bedtime and wake-up times and evaluate the quality of their sleep with scores ranging from 0 to 21, from the best to the worst quality. Finally, the researchers also assessed their sleep fragmentation, i.e. interruptions while they were sleeping, as well as their cognitive abilities, using memory and thinking tests.
Twice the risk of poor cognitive performance in middle age
Results: Of the 175 people whose sleep was the most disturbed, 44 had poor cognitive performance 10 years later, compared to 10 of the 176 people whose sleep was the least disturbed.
The researchers then adjusted these initial data according to various criteria (age, sex, education, etc.), but the link between sleep and memory persisted: people whose sleep was the most disturbed had more than twice the risk of have poor cognitive performance in their fifties than those whose sleep was the least disturbed.
“Further research is needed to assess the link between sleep disturbances and cognitive abilities at different stages of life and identify whether certain periods of life are more critical, [c’est-à-dire si le sommeil aurait plus d’impact sur les performances cognitives à certains moments]says Yue Leng. These studies could offer new avenues for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.“
