Sleep disturbances impact cognition and are highly prevalent in memory clinics

Abstract

Sleep questionnaires may help understand sleep habits and screen for sleep disorders. However, they can fail in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea or identifying the chronotype and the total sleep time of patients admitted to a specialized memory clinic. Lam et al. showed the high prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with cognitive impairment. They also highlighted the importance of combining subjective questionnaires with objective tests to identify sleep problems associated with poor cognitive performance, particularly in women. Consequently, recognizing sleep problems can help clinicians set personalized treatment strategies for improving sleep and preventing or slowing cognitive impairment.