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Daytime sleepiness linked to "pre-dementia" syndrome

2024-11-10 10:52:00, Shëndeti CNA

Seniors who are sleepy during the day and find it difficult to muster enthusiasm for activities may be at higher risk of a brain condition that precedes dementia.

These sleep-related problems are linked to "cognitive motor risk syndrome," a pre-dementia condition that causes slow walking speed and some memory problems, the researchers explained.

People with excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of enthusiasm are more than three times more likely to develop this syndrome, compared with people without those sleep-related problems, researchers reported Nov. 6 in the journal Neurology.

"More research needs to be done to look at the relationship between sleep issues and cognitive decline and the role played by cognitive motor risk syndrome," said researcher Dr. Victoire Leroy, with Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

"We also need studies to elucidate the mechanisms linking these sleep disturbances to cognitive motor risk syndrome and cognitive decline."

For the study, researchers recruited 445 people, with an average age of 76, without dementia. These elderly people filled out questionnaires about their sleep habits and memory problems, and their walking speed was repeatedly tested on a treadmill.

About 177 people met the definition of rough sleepers, and 268 met the definition of good sleepers.

At the start of the study, 42 people had cognitive motor risk syndrome. During an average follow-up of three years, another 36 people developed the condition.

About 36% of older adults with excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of enthusiasm developed the syndrome, compared with about 7% of people without these sleep-related problems.

However, the study could not prove a direct link between these sleep-related problems and pre-dementia syndrome, the researchers noted.

However, it does show that good sleep is likely to protect a person's brain health in old age, the researchers said.

"Our findings underscore the need for screening for sleep problems," Leroy said in an American Academy of Neurology news release. "The potential exists that people can get help with their sleep problems and prevent memory decline."/ CNA