Understanding the effect of fatigue on the association between sleep disturbances and cognitive function ability among cognitively impaired older adults: Neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurology/Mild cognitive impairment/Early symptomatic disease. (7th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kerner, Nancy; Cohen, Hannah; Scodes, Jennifer; Bell, Sophie; Goldberg, Terry E.; Westwood, Andrew; Devanand, Davangere P.
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 16(2020)Supplement 6
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-07
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.040590
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Fatigue is associated with neuroinflammation of the brain, one of the signatures of neurodegenerative disorders across preclinical and clinical stages. Substantial research evidence demonstrates a bidirectional link between Alzheimer's neuropathology and poor sleep. Whether neuroinflammation mediates the association between sleep disturbances and cognitive decline remains to be determined. In this pilot study, we examined whether fatigue impacts the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive function ability. Method: We prospectively recruited adults aged 55‐90 years with mild cognitive impairment to evaluate their symptoms of Fatigue, Sleep, and Cognitive Function Abilities (CFA), using the NIH PROMIS Fatigue short form (v1.0), Sleep Disturbances (SD, v2.0) and Sleep‐related Impairment short form (SRI v2.0), as well as the NIH Neuro‐QOL Cognitive Function Abilities short form (v1.0). The Poor‐sleep group was defined as a T‐score of >50 on either SD or SRI scale. Depression was defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score of 5 or greater and was a study exclusion criterion. Result: Twenty‐seven patients enrolled in the study, including 14 women and 13 men. The mean age was 67.37+/‐ 9.00 years. The Poor‐sleep group had significantly lower CFA compared to the Good‐sleep group (b=‐6.28, p=0.019). Greater Fatigue scores were significantly associated with lower Cognitive Function Abilities scores (r=.49, p=0.010). These results remained significant after controlling for age. Further, total scale SRI score was significantly associated with total scale Fatigue score (r=.72, p<0.001). Conclusion: Both fatigue and sleep disturbances were significantly associated with low CFA independently, along with a significant correlation between fatigue and poor sleep. The mechanisms by which fatigue and sleep disturbances contribute to cognitive test performance need to be elucidated in future research.