Subjective and Objective Sleep Characteristics in Cognitive Impairment

Investigators conducted a nested case-control analysis of subjective and objective sleep characteristics in 580 Swiss participants aged >65 years with and without cognitive impairment. Subjective sleep characteristics included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to assess for somnolence and the Berlin Questionnaire to assess risk for sleep apnea. Comprehensive polysomnography and complete neuropsychological testing were performed. Normal cognition was associated with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale score of 0, and cognitive impairment was defined as a CDR score >0. The study was partially industry-funded.

All of the 291 participants with cognitive impairment had a CDR of 0.5. Those with cognitive impairment had higher ESS scores than t…