Cognitive training improves sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with insomnia

• Published in: Sleep medicine 2013-12, Vol.14, p.e38-e38
• Main Authors: Haimov, I, Shatil, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Neurology; Sleep Medicine
• ISSN: 1389-9457; 1878-5506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2013.11.053

Introduction Background: Insomnia is a sleep disorder frequently observed in older persons. Along with the changes in sleep structure accompanying the ageing process, ageing is also associated with cognitive impairment. In view of the findings showing that sleep during the night is critical in the consolidation of previously acquired memory traces, we hypothesized that intensive new learning experience provided by systematic cognitive training will act as a catalyst to change sleep architecture and by doing so will improve sleep quality among older adults with insomnia. Furthermore, we posited that if that learning specifically targets cognitive function, older people with insomnia will also exhibit improved cognitive performance. Thus, the present study examined the impact of cognitive training on sleep quality and cognitive performance among older adults with insomnia. Materials and methods Fifty-one older adults with insomnia (22M/29F; mean age: 72.13 ± 5.1) were randomized into two groups: a cognitive training group ( n = 34) and an active control group ( n = 17). The participants in the cognitive training group completed an eight-week, home- based, personalized, computerized cognitive training program, while the participants in the active control group completed an eight-week, home-based program involving computerized tasks that do not engage high-level cognitive functioning. Before and after training, all participants’ sleep was monitored for one week by an actigraph and their cognitive performance was evaluated. Results Mixed models for repeated measures analysis showed between-group improvements for the cognitive training group on both sleep quality (sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency: F1,51 = 5.49, P < 0.05 ; F1,51 = 6.86, P < 0.05 , respectively) and cognitive performance (avoiding distractions, working memory, visual memory, general memory and naming: F1,36 = 5.18, P < 0.05 ; F1,35 = 13.92, P < 0.001; F1,35 = 14.03, P < 0.001 , F1,35 = 15.65, P < 0.001; F1,35 = 9.65, P < 0.01 respectively). Moreover, hierarchical linear regressions analysis indicated correlation between the improvement in cognitive function and those in sleep quality. Conclusion Cognitive training may be beneficial in the initiation and maintenance of sleep among older adult insomniacs. Cognitive training may be used as a novel non-pharmacological alternative to improve the sleep quality of older adults suffering from insomnia. The present study constitutes pioneering work