Older people who are sleepy during the day or lack enthusiasm for activities due to sleep issues may be more likely to develop a syndrome that can lead to dementia, according to a study published in the November 6, 2024, online issue of Neurology ® , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. People with the syndrome have a slow walking speed and say they have some memory issues, although they do not have a mobility disability or dementia. Called motoric cognitive risk syndrome, the condition can occur before dementia develops.
The study found that people with excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of enthusiasm to get things done were more likely to develop the syndrome than people without those sleep-related issues. The study does not prove that these sleep-related issues cause the syndrome, it only shows an association. Our findings emphasize the need for screening for sleep issues.
There's potential that people could get help with their sleep issues and prevent cognitive decline later in life." Victoire Leroy, MD, PhD, study author of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York The study involved 445 people with an average age of 76 who did not have dementia. Participants took questionnaires for sleep at the start of the study.
They were asked about memory issues and their walking speed was tested on a treadmill at the start of the study and then once a year for an average of three years. The sleep assessment asked questions such as how oft.
