Women in their 80s who experience increasing sleepiness during daytime over a five-year period are at twice the risk of devel- oping the debilitating condition, say findings.
Study author Dr Yue Leng, of the University of California, San Francisco, said: "Sleep is essential for cognitive health as it allows the brain to rest and rejuvenate, enhancing our ability to think clearly and remember information.
"However, little is known about how changes in sleep and cognition are connected over time and how these changes relate to dementia risk in the later decades of life.
"Our study found sleep problems may be inter- twined with cognitive ageing and may serve as an early marker or risk factor for dementia in women in their 80s."
The study involved 733 females with an average age of 83 who did not have mild cognitive impairment or dementia at the start of the five-year project.
During the study period, 164 participants (22 per cent) developed mild cognitive impairment and 93 (13 per cent) developed dementia.
The women wore wrist devices to track their sleep and circadian rhythm patterns at the start and end of the study.
The research team looked at the changes in night-time sleep duration and quality, daytime napping and circadian rhythm ...
Study author Dr Yue Leng, of the University of California, San Francisco, said: "Sleep is essential for cognitive health as it allows the brain to rest and rejuvenate, enhancing our ability to think clearly and remember information.
"However, little is known about how changes in sleep and cognition are connected over time and how these changes relate to dementia risk in the later decades of life.
"Our study found sleep problems may be inter- twined with cognitive ageing and may serve as an early marker or risk factor for dementia in women in their 80s."
The study involved 733 females with an average age of 83 who did not have mild cognitive impairment or dementia at the start of the five-year project.
During the study period, 164 participants (22 per cent) developed mild cognitive impairment and 93 (13 per cent) developed dementia.
The women wore wrist devices to track their sleep and circadian rhythm patterns at the start and end of the study.
The research team looked at the changes in night-time sleep duration and quality, daytime napping and circadian rhythm ...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 20, 2025