0288 Multidimensional Sleep Health and Cognitive Function in Retired Night Shift Workers and Retired Day Workers

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Night shift work is associated with compromised cognitive function, and with chronic exposure, may place shift workers at elevated risk for dementia. Given that former night shift workers experienced prior long-term sleep and circadian rhythm disruption, their sleep in retirement—after returning to a daytime schedule—may be particularly salient for cognitive function. This study examined associations between multidimensional sleep health and neurocognitive function among retired night shift workers and retired day workers. Methods Participants (N = 61; mean age: 67.9 +/- 4.7 years; 61% females; 13% non-Hispanic White) were 31 RDW and 30 RNSW equated on age, sex, race/ethnicity, premorbid IQ, and years in retirement. Multidimensional sleep health was quantified using wrist actigraphy measures of sleep efficiency, timing, duration, and regularity, and diary measures of alertness and satisfaction. Each component was dichotomized and summed to create a composite score (0-6); higher values indicated better sleep health. Participants completed a neurocognitive battery assessing six cognitive domains (language, visuospatial ability, attention, immediate and delayed memory, executive function) and self-reported cognitive function. Linear regression models tested associations of multidimensional sleep health and its individual components with cognitive domains in each group, adjusting for age, sex, and education. Results Retired night shift workers and retired day workers did not differ on multidimensional sleep health or its individual components. Among retired night shift workers, poorer multidimensional sleep health was associated with poorer self-reported global cognitive function (beta = 0.51, p = .018), and more irregular sleep timing was associated with poorer self-reported memory (beta = 0.41, p = .054). Multidimensional sleep health and its individual components were unrelated to cognitive function in retired day workers. Conclusion Retired night shift workers may be cognitively vulnerable to poor sleep health in retirement, possibly due to a history of long-term sleep and circadian rhythm disruption while working. Given that self-reported cognitive difficulties often precede more objective cognitive changes, future research should determine whether associations of sleep health with cognitive function are found in more objective cognitive measures as retired night shift workers age. Support (if any) R01AG047139, R01AG047139-S1, K01AG075171