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. 2022 May 15;14(1):e12287.
doi: 10.1002/dad2.12287. eCollection 2022.

Subjective cognitive decline and self-reported sleep problems: The SCIENCe project

Affiliations

Subjective cognitive decline and self-reported sleep problems: The SCIENCe project

Lieza G Exalto et al. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). .

Abstract

We aim to investigate the frequency and type of sleep problems in memory clinic patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and their association with cognition, mental health, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Three hundred eight subjects (65 ± 8 years, 44% female) were selected from the Subjective Cognitive Impairment Cohort (SCIENCe) project. All subjects answered two sleep questionnaires, Berlin Questionnaire (sleep apnea) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (sleep quality) and underwent a standardized memory clinic work-up. One hundred ninety-eight (64%) subjects reported sleep problems, based on 107 (35%) positive screenings on sleep apnea and 162 (53%) on poor sleep quality. Subjects with sleep problems reported more severe depressive symptoms, more anxiety, and more severe SCD. Cognitive tests, MRI, and CSF biomarkers did not differ between groups. Our results suggest that improvement of sleep quality and behaviors are potential leads for treatment in many subjects with SCD to relieve the experienced cognitive complaints.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Berlin questionnaire; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; sleep; subjective cognitive decline.

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Conflict of interest statement

LE has been invited speaker at Center for Innovation Medical Technology of the NAS of Ukraine. NDP is consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim, Aribio, and Amylyx. He is co‐PI of a study with Fuji Film Toyama Chemical. NDP received a speaker fee from Biogen. NDP served on the DSMB of Abbvie's M15‐566 trial. NDP is CEO and co‐owner of Brain Research Center, the Netherlands. CET was involved in Alz Res therapy Medidact Neurology and received travel support from Roche. LV received a small fee for the development of an online course on shared decision‐making, by EACH, the international organization for communication in health care (paid to her). PS has received consultancy fees (paid to the institution) from AC Immune, Alkermes, Alnylam, Alzheon, Anavex, Biogen, Brainstorm Cell, Cortexyme, Denali, EIP, ImmunoBrain Checkpoint, GemVax, Genentech, Green Valley, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, PeopleBio, Renew LLC, Roche. He is PI of studies with AC Immune, CogRx, FUJI‐film/Toyama, IONIS, UCB, and Vivoryon. PhS is a part‐time employee of Life Sciences Partners Amsterdam. PhS serves on the board of Brain Research Center and New Amsterdam Pharma. PhS served on the DSMB of Genentech SAB. WF is consultant to Oxford Health Policy Forum CIC, Roche, and Biogen MA Inc. and has been an invited speaker at Boehringer Ingelheim, Biogen MA Inc, Danone, Eisai, WebMD Neurology (Medscape). All funding is paid to her institution. WF holds the Pasman chair. WF has performed contract research for Biogen MA Inc and Boehringer Ingelheim. All funding is paid to her institution. The other authors (HMAH, KAB, JLE, MLK) have nothing to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Reported sleep problems. Risk of sleep apnea (Berlin questionnaire ≥2 categories positive), poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥5). Subjects were classified as having a sleep problem when the score on at least one sleep questionnaire was above the cut‐off

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