Beydoun HA, Beydoun MA, Weiss J, Hossain S, Huang S, Alemu BT, Zonderman AB. Insomnia as a predictor of diagnosed memory problems: 2006-2016 Health and Retirement Study.
Sleep Med 2021;
80:158-166. [PMID:
33601227 PMCID:
PMC11000697 DOI:
10.1016/j.sleep.2021.01.038]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the longitudinal relationship in insomnia symptoms over time with incident memory problems and dementia diagnoses among U.S. adults aged 65 years and older.
METHODS
Secondary analyses were performed on 9518 elderly participants (≥65 years) who completed the 2006 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and were followed-up to determine if insomnia symptom scores (2006-2014) were associated with time-to-onset of [1] physician-diagnosed "memory-related disease", "Alzheimer's disease" and/or "dementia, senility or any other serious memory impairment" and [2] diagnosis of dementia based on HRS-specific criteria. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed adjusting for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics.
RESULTS
In fully adjusted models, severe insomnia symptoms were associated with increased risk of physician-diagnosed memory problems. Individuals reporting any change (increase or decrease) in insomnia symptoms during the 2006-2010 period were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia based on HRS criteria. Finally, those who experienced an increase in the severity of insomnia symptoms over time exhibited 41-72% increased risks of physician-diagnosed memory problems and 45-58% increased risks of dementia diagnosis based on HRS criteria.
CONCLUSIONS
When severe insomnia symptoms increased over time, physician-diagnosed memory problems and dementia diagnoses also increased among U.S. elderly people over a 10-year follow-up period. More studies are required to confirm these findings using large prospective cohort designs and validated tools.
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