Sleep Disturbances, Changes in Sleep, and Cognitive Function in Low-Income African Americans

Background: Sleep problems may contribute to the disproportionate burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) among African Americans (AAs). Objective: To examine the role of sleep problems in contributing to cognitive function and clinically adjudicated cognitive impairment in a predominantly AA sample. Methods: This study (n = 216, 78.8% female; mean age = 67.7 years) examined associations between 1) the level (i.e., measured in 2018) and 2) change over time (from 2013 to 2018; n = 168) in actigraphy-assessed sleep with domain-specific cognitive function and clinically adjudicated cognitive impairment (2018) in a community-dwelling, predominantly AA (96.9%) sample. A comprehensive cognitive battery assessed global cognitive function (3MS) and domain-specific cognitive function (attention, visuo-spatial ability, language, delayed recall, immediate recall, and executive function) in 2018. Sleep was measured in 2013 and 2018 via actigraphy. Results: Higher sleep efficiency and less wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO; measured in 2018) were associated with greater attention, executive function, and visuospatial ability. Increases in sleep efficiency between 2013 and 2018 were associated with better executive function, language, immediate recall, and visuospatial ability, whereas increases in WASO (2013-2018) were associated with poorer attention, executive function, and visuospatial ability. Level or change in sleep duration were not associated with domain-specific cognitive function, nor were any sleep measures associated with clinically adjudicated cognitive impairment. Conclusion: In a predominantly AA sample of older adults, both the level and change (i.e., worsening) of sleep efficiency and WASO were associated with poorer cognitive function. Improving sleep health may support ADRD prevention and reduce health disparities.

Automated summary

This study examined the impact of sleep problems on cognitive function in a predominantly African American sample. The results showed that higher sleep efficiency and less wakefulness after sleep onset were associated with better attention, executive function, and visuospatial ability. Additionally, improvements in sleep efficiency were linked to better executive function, language, immediate recall, and visuospatial ability, while increases in wakefulness after sleep onset were associated with poorer attention, executive function, and visuospatial ability.