Relationships between physical activity, sleep and cognitive function: A narrative review

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2021-11, Vol.130, p.369-378
• Main Authors: Sewell, Kelsey R., Erickson, Kirk I., Rainey-Smith, Stephanie R., Peiffer, Jeremiah J., Sohrabi, Hamid R., Brown, Belinda M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognition; Executive function; Exercise; Global cognition; Mediation; Memory; Moderation; Physical activity; Review; Sleep; Sleep duration; Sleep efficiency; Sleep quality
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.003

•Physical activity negates some of the adverse impacts poor sleep has on cognition.•Physical activity may improve cognition through improving sleep.•Sleep and physical activity influence cognition via shared and separate pathways.•Intervention studies required for casual interpretation of results. Physical activity and exercise can improve cognitive function and reduce the risk for dementia. Other lifestyle factors, including sleep, are associated with cognitive function and dementia risk, and exercise is an effective therapeutic strategy for improving sleep. Based on these associations, it has been hypothesised that sleep might be an important mediator for the effects of exercise on cognition. Here, we review the current literature to evaluate whether sleep and physical activity are independently or jointly associated with cognitive function. The extant literature in this area is minimal, and the causal relationships between physical activity, sleep and cognition have not been examined. A small number of cross-sectional studies in this area suggest that physical activity may attenuate some of the negative impact that poor sleep has on cognition, and also that sleep may be a mechanism through which physical activity improves cognitive abilities. Further research may enable the development of individually tailored intervention programs to result in the greatest cognitive benefit, ultimately delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.