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Review
. 2022 Jun;17(2):205-222.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2022.02.001.

Sleep and Cognition: A Narrative Review Focused on Older Adults

Joseph M Dzierzewski  1 , Elliottnell Perez  2 , Scott G Ravyts  2 , Natalie Dautovich  3
Affiliations
Review

Sleep and Cognition: A Narrative Review Focused on Older Adults

Joseph M Dzierzewski et al. Sleep Med Clin. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Little is known regarding sleep's association with the traditional developmental course of late-life cognitive functioning. As the number of older adults increases worldwide, an enhanced understanding of age-related changes in sleep and cognition is necessary to slow decline and promote optimal aging. This review synthesizes the extant literature on sleep and cognitive function in healthy older adults, older adults with insomnia, and older adults with sleep apnea, incorporating information on the potential promising effects of treating poor sleep on cognitive outcomes in older adults. Unifying theories of the sleep-cognition association, possible mechanisms of action, and important unanswered questions are identified.

Keywords: Age; Aging; Cognition; Cognitive function; Insomnia; Sleep; Sleep apnea.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Dr J.M. Dzierzewski was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (K23AG049955). Dr N. Dautovich serves as a sleep consultant for the National Sleep Foundation and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Dr. Dzierzewski served on an advisory panel for Eisai Pharmaceuticals. E. Perez and S.G. Ravyts report no commercial or financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Normative changes with age in both cognitive functioning and sleep. Solid arrows represent general cognitive changes. Dashed arrows represent general sleep changes. Cognitive abilities that decline with age include processing speed, working memory, long-term memory, attention, reasoning, and executive control. Sleep characteristics that decline with age include total sleep time, slow wave sleep, and REM sleep. Sleep characteristics that increase with age include wake time after sleep onset, and light sleep (stages N1 and N2). Crystalized intelligence and sleep onset latency both showed slight increases with advancing age.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Model depicting the relationships among healthy sleep, insomnia/disturbed sleep, and sleep disordered breathing and cognitive functioning, optimal cognitive aging, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in older adults. Factors listed in dashed boxes represent potential biopsychosocial mechanisms through which sleep may impact cognitive functioning.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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