Sleep Disturbance In Elderly Is Risky To Increase Dementia

Illustration of sleep disorders in the elderly (Freepic)

JAKARTA - The latest research published in the journal Neurology reveals a relationship between sleep disorders in the elderly and an increased risk of dementia.

Based on a study, elderly people who experience excessive drowsiness during the day and lack enthusiasm in carrying out daily activities have a higher risk of developing motor cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), namely conditions that have the potential to develop into dementia.

Individuals experiencing MCR tend to run slower and have complaints regarding cognitive functions. However, doctors have not diagnosed this condition as dementia or walking disorder.

To study the relationship between sleep disorders and conditions that could potentially trigger dementia, the researchers involved 445 participants with an average age of 76 who did not experience dementia at the start of the study.

The researchers gave a questionnaire to assess the sleep habits of the participants, such as difficulty falling asleep in 30 minutes, often waking up in the middle of the night, or taking sleeping pills.

To measure excessive drowsiness during the day, participants are also asked about the frequency of their difficulties in maintaining their driving, eating, or doing social activities.

In addition, researchers evaluate the level of enthusiasm and memory problems in participants, including how difficult it is for them to maintain interest in completing their daily tasks.

The participants' running speed was also measured using a treadmill at the beginning of the study and every year for an average of three years.

From the analysis conducted, the researchers found that 35.5 percent of participants experienced severe drowsiness during the day and lacked enthusiasm for MCR syndrome, compared to 6.7% who did not have these conditions.

After controlling risk factors such as age and depression, the results show that individuals with excessive drowsiness during the day and less enthusiasm are three times more likely to experience MCR syndrome than those without similar sleep problems.

"These findings show the importance of screening for sleep problems in the elderly," said Victoire Leroy, MD, PhD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, who is the lead author of this study, as quoted by Antara.

"Many people may be able to get help improving their sleep quality, which in turn can prevent cognitive decline in the future," Leroy said in a statement.

The researchers stressed these findings did not prove that sleep disorders directly caused MCR syndrome, but only showed there was a relationship between the two.

Leroy added that further research is needed to understand the mechanism that connects sleep problems with motor cognitive risk syndrome and cognitive decline.