Associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration and self-reported sleep difficulties with cognitive function in late mid-life: the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study

Tea Teräs; Suvi Rovio; Adam P Spira; Saana Myllyntausta; Anna Pulakka; Jussi Vahtera; Sari Stenholm

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.08.024

Associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration and self-reported sleep difficulties with cognitive function in late mid-life: the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study

Sleep Med. 2020 Apr:68:42-49. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.08.024. Epub 2019 Sep 20.

Authors

Tea Teräs¹, Suvi Rovio², Adam P Spira³, Saana Myllyntausta¹, Anna Pulakka¹, Jussi Vahtera¹, Sari Stenholm⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
² Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Research Center of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
³ Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: sari.stenholm@utu.fi.

PMID: 32028225
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.08.024

Abstract

Objectives: Prior evidence suggests that sleep duration and sleep difficulties may be associated with cognitive function in old age, but little is known about the sleep-cognition association in late mid-life. Our aim was to examine the associations of accelerometer-based sleep duration as well as subjective sleep difficulties with different domains of cognitive function among aging workers.

Methods: The study population consisted of 289 participants (mean age 62.4 years, SD 1.02; 83% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA). Sleep difficulties were measured using Jenkins Sleep Problem Scale (difficulties falling asleep, difficulties maintaining sleep, waking up too early in the morning, and nonrestorative sleep). Sleep duration was measured with wrist-worn accelerometer and self-report, and participants were divided into short (<7 h/night), mid-range (7-9 h/night) and long (≥9 h/night) sleepers. Participants underwent extensive cognitive testing covering three domains: (1) memory, (2) executive function, and (3) attention and information processing.

Results: Greater difficulties in waking up too early in the morning were associated with poorer executive function measured with Spatial Working Memory (SWM) test (p = 0.005). Additionally, nonrestorative sleep was associated with poorer executive function measured with Trail Making Test, B-A, (p = 0.036) and borderline significantly with lower SWM (p = 0.056). Compared to mid-range sleepers, long sleepers tended to have poorer cognitive function (all memory function tests and SWM), but the associations were not statistically significant due to small number of long sleepers.

Conclusions: Subjective sleep difficulties may be linked to poorer executive function in a relatively healthy population of older workers in their 60 s. Thus, promoting good sleep quality may translate into better cognitive health in late mid-life.

Keywords: Accelerometer; Cognitive function; Sleep difficulties; Sleep duration; Sleep quality.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accelerometry
Aging
Cognition
Female
Finland / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retirement*
Self Report
Sleep
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*