Age-related cognitive decline is a key factor in the loss of independence and reduced well-being in older adults. Identifying modifiable factors that can help maintain daily cognitive function is crucial for improving the quality of life, active social participation, and mitigating cognitive impairment and dementia.
Physical activity is one such protective factor, with studies showing that individuals who engage in regular physical activity experience slower cognitive decline and a lower risk of dementia. Physical activity has been demonstrated to improve the same-day cognitive performance; however, the role of sleep in this regard has not been evaluated. Daily exercise has been found to improve sleep duration, which, in turn, improves cognitive performance and reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Different sleep stages, such as REM and non-REM (slow-wave) sleep, are associated with various types of memory. Physical activity boosts slow-wave sleep (SWS) and delays the onset of REM sleep.
A study carried out by Bloomberg et al., recently published in the “International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity”, investigated the associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB), sleep duration, REM sleep, SWS, and next-day cognitive performance in five cognitive domains (attention, memory, psychomotor speed, executive function, and processing speed) in 76 British adults aged 50–83 years. The participants wore accelerometers for 8 days and undertook daily cognitive tests. The results showed that more MVPA and longer sleep duration significantly improved cognitive performance and memory (p = 0.03, p = 0.008) (See Graphic).
(Source: Bloomberg M, Brocklebank L, Doherty A, Hamer M, Steptoe A. Associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep with next-day cognitive performance in older adults: A micro-longitudinal study. nt J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2024;21(1):133. Doi:10.1186/s12966-024-01683-7)