Sleep measures and domain-specific cognition in adults aged 55 and older
In community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older observed three times over two years, sleep duration, subjective sleep quality and a multidimensional sleep health score were not significantly associated with any cognitive domain; higher sleep efficiency was associated with better executive function. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older were assessed at three time points over two years, with a baseline of 233 participants (51.1% women, mean age 68.3 years). [1]
Sleep duration, subjective sleep quality and multidimensional sleep health were not significantly associated with any cognitive domain. [1]
Higher sleep efficiency was significantly associated with better executive function, and sleep-by-time interactions were not significant. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational study with repeated observations over two years (abstract)
- Population / context
- Community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older; baseline n = 233, 51.1% women, mean age 68.3 years.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 14, 2026
Repeated observations in adults aged 55 and older
The study asked whether several sleep characteristics were associated with domain-specific cognitive function in community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older. Participants were assessed at three time points over two years; baseline included 233 adults, 51.1% women, mean age 68.3 years. Sleep was measured with 7-day wrist accelerometry (duration and efficiency), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for subjective quality, and a multidimensional sleep health score combining device and self-report dimensions. Cognition was measured as composite scores for short-term memory, long-term memory, executive function and processing speed.
Supporting source [1]
Sleep efficiency linked to executive function only
Linear mixed-effects models, adjusted for age, sex, educational level, living situation and total physical activity, examined associations between time-varying sleep characteristics and cognitive outcomes. Sleep duration, subjective sleep quality and multidimensional sleep health were not significantly associated with any cognitive domain. Higher sleep efficiency was significantly associated with better executive function; sensitivity analyses using wake after sleep onset showed a comparable pattern. Sleep-by-time interactions were not significant, so associations remained stable over the follow-up. These are associations, not evidence that sleep causes cognitive differences.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the sleep-cognition findings
The available information is the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports the design, baseline sample size, three time points over two years, sleep and cognitive measures, adjustment variables and the main results. It does not report follow-up sample sizes, effect sizes or detailed limitations. The findings therefore describe associations in this sample of adults aged 55 and older and should not be read as showing that changing sleep improves cognition.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Follow-up sample sizes, effect sizes and detailed limitations are not reported in the abstract. Associations are not causal, and no claim about improving cognition through sleep is supported.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Marent PJ, Duncan MJ, Cardon G, Albouy G, van Uffelen J. · europepmc.org · September 14, 2026