Prolonged sleep duration as a predictor of cognitive decline: A meta-analysis encompassing 49 cohort studies

Abstract

Despite numerous studies have explored the association between sleep duration and cognition, the link between sleep duration trajectories and cognition remains underexplored. This systematic review aims to elucidate this correlation. We analyzed 55 studies from 14 countries, comprising 36 studies focusing on sleep duration, 20 on insomnia, and 13 on hypersomnia. A total of 10,767,085 participants were included in 49 cohort studies with a mean follow-up duration of 9.1 years. A non-linear association between sleep duration and cognitive decline was identified. Both long (risk ratio (RR):1.35, 95 % confidence intervals (CIs):1.23–1.48) and short sleep durations (RR: 1.12, 95 % CIs:1.03–1.22) were associated with an elevated risk of cognitive decline compared to moderate sleep duration. Additionally, hypersomnia (RR:1.26, 95 % CIs: 1.15–1.39) and insomnia (RR: 1.16, 95 % CIs: 1.002–1.34) were also linked to an increased risk. Moreover, prolonged sleep duration posed a higher risk of cognitive decline than stable sleep duration (RR:1.42, 95 % CIs:1.27–1.59). Importantly, transitioning from short or moderate to long sleep duration, as well as persistent long sleep duration, exhibited higher RRs for cognitive decline (RRs: 1.94, 1.40, and 1.28, respectively) compared to persistent moderate sleep duration. Our findings underscore the significance of prolonged sleep duration, alongside short and long sleep durations, with an elevated risk of cognitive decline. The association is tied to the degree of sleep duration changes. Our study highlights the importance of considering changes in sleep patterns over time, not just static sleep durations.