A new review has been published on the cover of Aging (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by MEDLINE/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 21, entitled: “Sleep Deprivation in Dementia Comorbidities: Focus on Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Anxiety /depression and thyroid disorders.”
The review, authored by Upasana Mukherjee, Ujala Sehar, Malcolm Brownell and P. Hemachandra Reddy of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, compiles findings from recent studies on how sleep problems, such as insomnia, sleep apnea and disrupted sleep cycles, can worsen dementia and impair cognitive function. accelerate decline. It also highlights the profound impact of these sleep disorders on caregivers, who often deal with burnout and emotional stress.
Dementia is a condition that significantly impairs the ability to think, remember and make decisions, making everyday life increasingly difficult to manage. Sleep problems are a major challenge for people with dementia; more than half experience disturbed sleep. These disorders include difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or wandering around at night.
Such problems go beyond causing fatigue: they accelerate memory loss, increase confusion, and increase the risk of behavioral symptoms such as agitation. Addressing sleep problems is critical to improving the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers. Caregivers, who often provide around-the-clock support to their loved ones, face significant stress when dealing with these sleep disorders.
“This situation creates a vicious cycle in which caregiver discomfort worsens patient symptoms, further increasing the burden on caregivers.”
This review also examines how other diseases, common in older adults with dementia, exacerbate sleep disorders. Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, heart disease and anxiety disrupt sleep, and poor sleep worsens both dementia and the underlying diseases. For example, untreated sleep apnea can significantly accelerate cognitive decline in people with dementia.
To improve sleep for dementia patients, the authors recommend holistic approaches that address both sleep disorders and related health problems. Simple changes such as establishing a regular bedtime routine, reducing nighttime noise, and encouraging physical activity during the day can significantly improve sleep quality.
Nonpharmacological treatments, including light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, have also shown promise. Managing coexisting conditions such as diabetes or anxiety can help reduce the severity of sleep problems. The authors emphasize the need for more research into targeted, multidisciplinary approaches to effectively manage sleep disorders, improve patient well-being, and reduce caregiver stress.
In conclusion, this review highlights the critical need for a more comprehensive approach to dementia care. Improving sleep can slow the progression of dementia, reduce stress on caregivers, and improve quality of life for everyone involved. As the number of dementia cases increases worldwide, addressing sleep problems will become an increasingly important aspect of care.
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Magazine reference:
Mukherjee, U., et al. (2024). Sleep deprivation in dementia comorbidities: focus on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety/depression and thyroid disorders. Aging. doi.org/10.18632/aging.206157.