A newer approach
By linking sleep variability and daytime functioning, the study employs a “newer approach,” said Joseph M. Dzierzewski, PhD, director of behavioral medicine concentration in the department of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. “While some previous work has examined night-to-night fluctuation in various sleep characteristics and cognitive functioning, what differentiates the present study from these previous works is the duration of the investigation,” he said. The “richness of data” in the Seattle Longitudinal Study and how it tracks sleep and cognition over years make it “quite unique and novel.”
Dr. Joseph M. Dzierzewski
Future studies, he said, should be deliberate in how they evaluate sleep and neurocognitive function across years. “Disentangling short-term moment-to-moment and day-to-day fluctuation, which may be more reversible in nature, from long-term, enduring month-to-month or year-to-year fluctuation, which may be more permanent, will be important for continuing to advance our understanding of these complex phenomena,” Dr. Dzierzewski said. “An additional important area of future investigation would be to continue the hunt for a common biological factor underpinning both sleep variability and Alzheimer’s disease.” That, he said, may help identify potential intervention targets.
Dr. Keil and Dr. Dzierzewski have no relevant disclosures.