Relationship between metabolic syndrome, sleep quality and cognitive impairment

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMetabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which have been related to cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. Sleep disorders in older adults have a negative impact on cognitive performance. However, a link between metabolic syndrome, sleep, and cognitive decline has not been established.MethodA retrospective cross‐sectional study was carried out. Information was collected from clinical histories about demographic, metabolic parameters, sleep diaries, neurocognitive evaluation and neuroimaging studies. For statistical analyses, chi‐square tests of association were included for categorical variables (age, sex, educational level, social economy status (SES), hypertension, diabetes, BMI, depression, anxiety, smoking, sedentary lifestyle) for each memory problem. A binary logistic regression model was used to predict the probabilities of memory problems. Which was built including each variable independently.ResultsThe logistic regression revealed that women and low educational level were associated with increased memory difficulties over time (odds ratio [OR] = 5.3, p < 0.001). Depression was associated with increased odds of memory problems (OR = 3.8, p <0.001). When the sleep quality variable was added, it was observed that the poor sleep quality partially reduced the impact of age, gender, and depression on memory. However, all continued to present an OR greater than 1. Of the medical conditions, type 2 diabetes and hypertension showed a significant interaction (OR = 1.7, p < 0.001).ConclusionWe believe that there is an association between metabolic state, sleep quality and cognitive impairment. in such a way that those with metabolic disorders and poor sleep quality have decreased cognitive performance.