The association between sleep microarchitecture and cognitive function in middle-aged and older men: a community-based cohort study

• Published in: Journal of clinical sleep medicine Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 1593 - 1608
• Main Authors: Parker, Jesse L, Appleton, Sarah L, Melaku, Yohannes Adama, D'Rozario, Angela L, Wittert, Gary A, Martin, Sean A, Toson, Barbara, Catcheside, Peter G, Lechat, Bastien, Teare, Alison J, Adams, Robert J, Vakulin, Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Academy of Sleep Medicine 01.06.2022
• Subjects: Aged; Cognition; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electroencephalography; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Scientific Investigations; Sleep; obstructive sleep apnea; sleep microarchitecture; impairment; community; power spectral analysis; quantitative EEG; prospective
• ISSN: 1550-9389; 1550-9397
• DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.9934

Sleep microarchitecture parameters determined by quantitative power spectral analysis of electroencephalograms have been proposed as potential brain-specific markers of cognitive dysfunction. However, data from community samples remain limited. This study examined cross-sectional associations between sleep microarchitecture and cognitive dysfunction in community-dwelling men. Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study participants (n = 477) underwent home-based polysomnography (2010-2011). All-night electroencephalogram recordings were processed using quantitative power spectral analysis following artifact exclusion. Cognitive testing (2007-2010) included the inspection time task, Trail-Making Tests A and B, and Fuld object memory evaluation. Complete case cognition, polysomnography, and covariate data were available in 366 men. Multivariable linear regression models controlling for demographic, biomedical, and behavioral confounders determined cross-sectional associations between sleep microarchitecture and cognitive dysfunction overall and by age-stratified subgroups. In the overall sample, worse Trail-Making Test A performance was associated with higher rapid eye movement (REM) theta and alpha and non-REM theta but lower delta power (all  < .05). In men ≥ 65 years, worse Trail-Making Test A performance was associated with lower non-REM delta but higher non-REM and REM theta and alpha power (all  < .05). Furthermore, in men ≥ 65 years, worse Trail-Making Test B performance was associated with lower REM delta but higher theta and alpha power (all  < .05). Sleep microarchitecture parameters may represent important brain-specific markers of cognitive dysfunction, particularly in older community-dwelling men. Therefore, this study extends the emerging community-based cohort literature on a potentially important link between sleep microarchitecture and cognitive dysfunction. The utility of sleep microarchitecture for predicting prospective cognitive dysfunction and decline warrants further investigation. Parker JL, Appleton SL, Melaku YA, et al. The association between sleep microarchitecture and cognitive function in middle-aged and older men: a community-based cohort study. . 2022;18(6):1593-1608.