Sleepiness during the day may be an early sign of dementia

Older adults who experience sleepiness during the day may be more likely to develop the syndrome, which can lead to dementia.

A team of researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx has suggested that there is a link between sleep problems and the prevalence of motor cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).

The study involved 445 people over 65 years of age without signs of dementia. At the start of the study, they filled out questionnaires about their sleep habits, asking them how often they had difficulty falling asleep, whether they woke up during the night, and whether they used any medications to help them sleep. Another part of the questionnaire included questions about daytime sleepiness.

At the start of the study, 42 of the 445 older participants had already been diagnosed with MCR syndrome. Over the three years that the study continued, 36 more people developed the syndrome. The researchers found that among those who suffered from insomnia (177 people), the risk of developing MCR was higher than among those who slept well. They also found that people with severe daytime sleepiness who reported difficulty completing normal activities due to fatigue were three times more likely to experience the syndrome than those who did not have sleep problems.

“Our findings highlight the need for screening for sleep problems,” said study author Dr Victoire Leroy. “There is the potential for people to get help with their sleep problems and prevent cognitive decline later in life.”