Early warning sign of dementia: Sleepiness during the day, suggests study.

For certain groups, feeling sleepy during the day could indicate a more significant problem.

Older individuals who experience daytime sleepiness may have a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology.

Individuals who exhibit low energy levels and experience fatigue during the day are more likely to develop motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).

Before dementia develops, individuals may experience slower walking speeds and memory issues due to MCR.

A study led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, involved 445 elderly participants, aged 76 on average, who did not have dementia.

For three years, participants were annually asked about memory issues and their walking speeds were assessed on treadmills.

In addition to the sleep assessment, the group evaluated their sleeping issues, routines, and medication use.

Additionally, the researchers monitored the frequency of individuals experiencing difficulty staying alert while performing activities such as driving, eating, or socializing, as well as their struggles with maintaining motivation for routine tasks.

During the study, 42 people had MCR, and 36 more developed the condition.

Individuals with low energy levels and excessive daytime sleepiness were found to have a threefold increased risk of developing MCR after taking into account age, depression, and other health conditions.

The study highlights the importance of sleep screening, according to Dr. Victoire Leroy of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

"People may receive assistance with their sleep problems and reduce the likelihood of cognitive decline in the future."

Leroy stated that more research is necessary to investigate the link between sleep problems and cognitive decline, as well as the role of motoric cognitive risk syndrome in this relationship.

The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted.

The study did not establish a causal link between sleep-related problems and MCR, but only demonstrated a correlation.

Participants reported their own sleep information, which may have introduced bias.

Dr. Wendy Troxel, a sleep expert and licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, discussed the study with Planet Chronicle Digital.

"There’s a potential that people could get help with their sleep issues and prevent cognitive decline later in life."

It is crucial to determine whether sleep problems specifically contribute to MCR, beyond the impact of depression, as sleep problems and depression are closely linked, according to Troxel, who was not part of the study.

She stated that although individuals with poor sleep quality had a higher likelihood of developing MCR, this association was no longer significant when taking into account depression.

Despite adjusting for depression, sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR, according to Troxel.

The researcher stated that the evidence suggests that promoting good sleep health may decrease the likelihood of developing dementia and highlights the importance of better identifying and diagnosing sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea.

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These disorders are prevalent and treatable in both men and women, but they remain under-diagnosed and under-treated, according to Troxel.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging.

Planet Chronicle Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.