INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #68 Sleep Quality and Visual Learning in Middle-Aged Adults Jennifer Thompson, University of Maine, Orono, United States Sophia Lambert, University of Maine, Orono, United States Fayeza Ahmed, University of Maine, Orono, United States Category: Sleep and Sleep Disorders Keyword 1: sleep Keyword 2: learning Keyword 3: aging (normal) Objective: Sleep has been shown to directly impact cognitive function throughout the lifespan, where healthy aging is characterized by decreased efficiency in working memory and forming new episodic memories¹. Sleep has also been shown to impact visual task performance, which may be attributable to visual information load and iconic memory characteristics². Further, visual learning has been associated with neuroanatomical correlates including the primary visual cortex and the occipital temporal junction, as well as the medial temporal lobe and the inferior parietal lobe, both of which are associated with dementias when deteriorated^1,3. This study aims to examine the possible relation between subjective sleep quality and visual learning among middle-aged adults to inform future research for early interventions of modifiable behaviors that can contribute to cognitive aging. Participants and Methods: 35 middle-aged (40-65 years, inclusive) cognitively normal individuals were recruited from the community to participate in this study. Subjective sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Visual learning and memory were measured using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised (BVMT-R). Results: Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to evaluate associations among sleep quality indices and visual learning and memory performance in this sample. First, correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between PSQI Global Score and BVMT-R Total Learning raw score (R2 = 0.338, p = 0.47). Next, hierarchical multiple regression analyses with demographic variables in step 1 (age, education, sex) showed significant outcomes (b = 0.388, p = 0.030). In terms of individualized PSQI Components, Subjective Sleep Quality was shown to have significant correlations with Total Learning (raw score: R2 = 0.514, p = 0.002; T-score: R2 = 0.393, p = 0.019), and significant regression outcomes (raw score: b = 0.479, p = 0.006; T-score: b = 0.383, p = 0.035). Sleep Duration was shown to have similar significant correlations with Total Learning (raw score: R2 = 0.501, p = 0.002; T-score: R2 = 0.490, p = 0.003) and subsequent regression outcomes (raw score: b = 0.500, p = 0.004; T-score: b = 0.496, p = 0.005). Further, Sleep Duration was shown to be significantly correlated with BVMT-R Trial One performance (raw score: R2 = -0.389, p = 0.021; T-Score: R2 = -0.407, p = 0.015). Regression outcomes were also shown to be significant (Raw score: b = -0.370; p = 0.030; T-Score: b = -0.378, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Only Subjective Sleep Quality and Sleep Duration were found to be significantly associated with learning outcomes, limited to Trial One performance, which can be associated with attention, and Total Learning. Much of the literature focuses more on sleep deprivation/sleep restrictions; our results lend support for continued study of sleep quality in addition to deprivation. Limitations of this study included a small sample size, which was screened for and consisted of cognitively and physically healthy middle-aged adults. Further, sleep quality was measured with one subjective measure, and visual learning was assessed with one measure.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #68

Sleep Quality and Visual Learning in Middle-Aged Adults

Jennifer Thompson, University of Maine, Orono, United States
Sophia Lambert, University of Maine, Orono, United States
Fayeza Ahmed, University of Maine, Orono, United States

Category: Sleep and Sleep Disorders

Keyword 1: sleep
Keyword 2: learning
Keyword 3: aging (normal)

Objective:

Sleep has been shown to directly impact cognitive function throughout the lifespan, where healthy aging is characterized by decreased efficiency in working memory and forming new episodic memories¹. Sleep has also been shown to impact visual task performance, which may be attributable to visual information load and iconic memory characteristics². Further, visual learning has been associated with neuroanatomical correlates including the primary visual cortex and the occipital temporal junction, as well as the medial temporal lobe and the inferior parietal lobe, both of which are associated with dementias when deteriorated^1,3. This study aims to examine the possible relation between subjective sleep quality and visual learning among middle-aged adults to inform future research for early interventions of modifiable behaviors that can contribute to cognitive aging.

Participants and Methods:

35 middle-aged (40-65 years, inclusive) cognitively normal individuals were recruited from the community to participate in this study. Subjective sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Visual learning and memory were measured using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised (BVMT-R).

Results:

Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to evaluate associations among sleep quality indices and visual learning and memory performance in this sample. First, correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between PSQI Global Score and BVMT-R Total Learning raw score (R2 = 0.338, p = 0.47). Next, hierarchical multiple regression analyses with demographic variables in step 1 (age, education, sex) showed significant outcomes (b = 0.388, p = 0.030). In terms of individualized PSQI Components, Subjective Sleep Quality was shown to have significant correlations with Total Learning (raw score: R2 = 0.514, p = 0.002; T-score: R2 = 0.393, p = 0.019), and significant regression outcomes (raw score: b = 0.479, p = 0.006; T-score: b = 0.383, p = 0.035). Sleep Duration was shown to have similar significant correlations with Total Learning (raw score: R2 = 0.501, p = 0.002; T-score: R2 = 0.490, p = 0.003) and subsequent regression outcomes (raw score: b = 0.500, p = 0.004; T-score: b = 0.496, p = 0.005). Further, Sleep Duration was shown to be significantly correlated with BVMT-R Trial One performance (raw score: R2 = -0.389, p = 0.021; T-Score: R2 = -0.407, p = 0.015). Regression outcomes were also shown to be significant (Raw score: b = -0.370; p = 0.030; T-Score: b = -0.378, p = 0.028).

Conclusions:

Only Subjective Sleep Quality and Sleep Duration were found to be significantly associated with learning outcomes, limited to Trial One performance, which can be associated with attention, and Total Learning. Much of the literature focuses more on sleep deprivation/sleep restrictions; our results lend support for continued study of sleep quality in addition to deprivation. Limitations of this study included a small sample size, which was screened for and consisted of cognitively and physically healthy middle-aged adults. Further, sleep quality was measured with one subjective measure, and visual learning was assessed with one measure.