Sleep in the Context of Healthy Aging and Psychiatric Syndromes

Age-related eye diseases and subsequent risk of mental disorders in older adults: A real-world multicenter study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between age-related eye diseases and the subsequent risk of dementia and depressive disorders remains inconsistent. Furthermore, the effects on anxiety disorders and sleep disorders have been underexplored. This study aims to comprehensively examine the impact of age-related eye diseases on common mental disorders in older adults, thereby enhancing our understanding of the mental health implications in these conditions.

METHODS

The electronic health records of 1,522,036 patients aged over 60 from ten institutions in South Korea were analyzed. Patients with and without age-related eye diseases were identified, and 1:4 propensity score matching (PSM) was implemented. A 10-year longitudinal analysis was conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model to calculate the hazard ratios (HR). A meta-analysis was performed to combine the results from different institutions. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the impact of specific age-related eye diseases (cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration) on mental disorders.

RESULTS

A total of 41,637 patients with age-related eye disease were matched with 134,908 patients without such conditions. Patients with age-related eye disease showed a significantly higher risk of mental disorders (dementia, HR: 1.21 [95 % CI: 1.14-1.27]; depressive disorders, HR: 1.28 [95 % CI: 1.20-1.36]; anxiety disorders, HR: 1.31 [95 % CI: 1.22-1.41]; sleep disorders, HR: 1.29 [95 % CI: 1.22-1.37]). In subgroup analyses, each of the three age-related eye diseases was significantly associated with an increased risk of mental disorders. (cataract, HR: 1.25-1.33; glaucoma, HR: 1.15-1.49; age-related macular degeneration, HR: 1.18-1.37).

CONCLUSION

Age-related eye diseases increase the risk of developing mental disorders in older adults, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach to patient care in these conditions.

Inter-relationships of depression and anxiety symptoms among widowed and non-widowed older adults: findings from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey based on network analysis and propensity score matching

Background

Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental health issues among older adult widowed adults. However, the symptom-level relationships between these conditions remain unclear. Due to the high correlations and complex relationships among various symptoms, this study employs network analysis to explore differences in the network structures of depression and anxiety symptoms between widowed and non-widowed older adults.

Methods

Propensity score matching was used to identify widowed older adults with similar demographic characteristics. Data from 1,736 widowed and 1,736 matched controls were analyzed using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2017-2018). Depression and anxiety were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD-10) and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), respectively. Central and bridge symptoms were evaluated using expected influence (EI) and bridge expected influence (BEI), respectively.

Results

Network analysis revealed similarities in central symptoms between widowed and non-widowed older adults, with both groups exhibiting "Feeling depressed or down" (CESD3), "Feeling tense and having difficulty relaxing" (GAD4), and "Being unable to stop or control worrying" (GAD2) as core symptoms. However, differences emerged in bridge symptoms. In the widowed group, "Feeling anxious, worried, or distressed" (GAD1) was most strongly connected to "Felt lonely" (CESD8); "Worrying too much about various things" (GAD3) was strongly linked to "Feeling increasingly exhausted and useless with age" (CESD4); and "Feeling depressed or down" (CESD3) had a strong association with "Becoming easily annoyed or irritable" (GAD6). In the non-widowed group, "Feeling anxious, worried, or distressed" (GAD1) exhibited the strongest association with "Having good sleep quality" (CESD10); "Getting upset over small matters" (CESD1) was closely connected to "Feeling anxious, worried, or distressed" (GAD1); and "Worrying too much about various things" (GAD3) was most strongly connected to "Feeling depressed or down" (CESD3).

Conclusion

Common central and bridge symptoms highlight universal intervention targets. Addressing "Feeling depressed or down" in widowed and "Getting upset over small matters" in non-widowed older adults may help prevent depression-anxiety comorbidity. These findings support targeted interventions to improve mental health outcomes. Future research should evaluate tailored intervention effectiveness.

Sleep Duration Polygenic Risk and Phenotype: Associations with Biomarkers of Accelerated Aging in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

We sought to explore whether genetic risk for, and self-reported, short sleep are associated with biological aging and whether age and sex moderate these associations. Participants were a subset of individuals from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who had complete data on self-reported sleep (n = 567) or genotype (n = 367). Outcomes included: Intrinsic Horvath age, Hannum age, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DNAm-based estimates of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and granulocyte count. Results demonstrated that polygenic risk for short sleep was positively associated with granulocyte count; compared to those reporting <6 hr sleep, those reporting >7 hr demonstrated faster PhenoAge and GrimAge acceleration and higher estimated PAI-1. Polygenic risk for short sleep and self-reported sleep duration interacted with age and sex in their associations with some of the outcomes. Findings highlight that polygenic risk for short sleep and self-reported long sleep is associated with variation in the epigenetic landscape and subsequently aging.

Sex Differences in the Associations Between Chronic Diseases and Insomnia Symptoms Among Older Adults in India

Background

Sleep problems are a critical issue in the aging population, affecting quality of life, cognitive efficiency, and contributing to adverse health outcomes. The coexistence of multiple diseases is common among older adults, particularly women. This study examines the associations between specific chronic diseases, multimorbidity, and insomnia symptoms among older Indian men and women, with a focus on the interaction of sex in these associations.

Methods

Data were drawn from 31,464 individuals aged 60 and older in the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, Wave-1 (2017-18). Insomnia symptoms were assessed using four questions adapted from the Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS-4), covering difficulty falling asleep, waking up, waking too early, and feeling unrested during the day. Multivariable logistic regression models, stratified by sex, were used to analyze the associations between chronic diseases and insomnia symptoms.

Results

Older women had a higher prevalence of insomnia symptoms than men (44.73% vs 37.15%). Hypertension was associated with higher odds of insomnia in both men (AOR: 1.20) and women (AOR: 1.36). Women with diabetes had lower odds of insomnia (AOR: 0.80), while this association was not significant in men. Neurological or psychiatric disorders, stroke, and bone and joint diseases were linked to higher odds of insomnia in both sexes. Chronic lung disease was associated with insomnia in men (AOR: 1.65), but not in women. Additionally, having three or more chronic diseases significantly increased the odds of insomnia in both men (AOR: 2.43) and women (AOR: 2.01).

Conclusion

Hypertension, bone and joint diseases, lung diseases, stroke, neurological or psychiatric disorders, and multimorbidity are linked to insomnia symptoms in older Indian adults. Disease-specific management and routine insomnia screening are crucial for promoting healthy aging in this vulnerable population.

Understanding resilience: Lifestyle-based behavioral predictors of mental health and well-being in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Changes in sleep, physical activity and mental health were observed in older adults during early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we describe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adult mental health, wellbeing, and lifestyle behaviors and explore predictors of better mid-pandemic mental health and wellbeing.

METHODS

Participants in the Adult Changes in Thought study completed measures of lifestyle behaviors (e.g., sleep, physical activity) and mental health and wellbeing both pre-pandemic during regular study visits and mid-pandemic via a one-time survey. We used paired t-tests to compare differences in these measures pre- vs. mid-pandemic. Using multivariate linear regression, we further explored demographic, health, and lifestyle predictors of pandemic depressive symptoms, social support, and fatigue. We additionally qualitatively coded free text data from the mid-pandemic survey for related comments.

RESULTS

Participants (N = 896) reported significant changes in mental health and lifestyle behaviors at pre-pandemic vs. mid-pandemic measurements (p < 0.0001). Qualitative findings supported these behavioral and wellbeing changes. Being male, never smoking, and lower pre-pandemic computer time and sleep disturbance were significantly associated with lower pandemic depressive symptoms. Being partnered, female, never smoking, and lower pre-pandemic sleep disturbance were associated with higher pandemic social support. Pre-pandemic employment, more walking, less computer time, and less sleep disturbance were associated with less pandemic fatigue. Participant comments supported these quantitative findings, highlighting gender differences in pandemic mental health, changes in computer usage and physical activity during the pandemic, the value of spousal social support, and links between sleep disturbance and mental health and wellbeing. Qualitative findings also revealed additional factors, such as stresses from personal and family health situations and the country's concurrent political environment, that impacted mental health and wellbeing.

CONCLUSIONS

Several demographic, health, and lifestyle behaviors appeared to buffer the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and may be key sources of resilience. Interventions and public health measures targeting men and unpartnered individuals could promote social support resilience, and intervening on modifiable behaviors like sleep quality, physical activity and sedentary activities like computer time may promote resilience to fatigue and depressive symptoms during future community stressor events. Further research into these relationships is warranted.

Age and objectively measured sleep: investigating associations and interactions by sex and race in middle-aged and older adults

Study Objectives

Few studies of middle-aged and older adults have examined the association between age and sleep using objective sleep measures. We examined these associations in adults aged ≥40 years using wrist actigraphy, and investigated whether these associations differed by sex and race.

Methods

Participants were 468 cognitively normal adults aged ≥40 years enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who completed wrist actigraphy. We used Generalized Least Squares Models to examine the associations of age with actigraphic sleep parameters, including total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and wake after sleep onset (WASO). We conducted interaction and stratification analyses to test whether cross-sectional age-sleep associations were modified by sex and race.

Results

In analyses adjusting for sex, body mass index, and individual medical conditions, older age was associated with longer TST from ages 40-70 that plateaued after age 70. Older age also was associated with lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep onset latency, and greater WASO. In men only, after age 70, older age was associated with shorter TST, lower sleep efficiency, longer onset latency, and greater WASO. However, we did not observe any significant interactions of race with age.

Conclusions

Older age was associated with longer TST from ages 40 to 70 and with poorer sleep quality after age 40, and these relationships might vary by sex. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate mechanisms that may account for sex differences in the observed age-sleep associations.

Procedural Detailing: A Patient's Practice for Normalizing Routine Behaviors

In palliative care in the UK, occupational and/or physiotherapists consult with patients to assess how they are managing their activities for daily living in light of their life-limiting condition(s), and to identify any activities that might benefit from therapeutic intervention. In this paper we use conversation analysis to describe a patient's practice in these consultations, which we call "procedural detailing," whereby they produce a step-by-step description of how they do some everyday activity, such that it is depicted as adequate, stable, and unproblematic. Based on a collection of 15 cases identified in video recordings of consultations in a large English hospice, we demonstrate how patients use this practice to normalize their routine conduct and thereby reject or rule out an actual or anticipated therapeutic recommendation. Our analysis suggests that such descriptions let patients participate in shared decision-making by revealing their preference for routines that preserve their level of independence and dignity.

Sleep and Depression in Older Adults: A Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The sleep-depression association has been recognized for decades. Efforts to clarify this association continue at an increasing pace. This review summarizes recent research on the sleep-depression association in older adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

Research over the past 4 years has utilized cross-sectional, longitudinal, cohort, and intervention designs to examine these associations. Short (< 7 h) and long (> 8-9 h) sleep durations and insomnia symptoms are risk factors for depression in older adults. Similarly, short sleep, long sleep, insomnia symptoms, and depression are all risk factors for poorer health in late life, including increased risk of cognitive decline, falls, and poorer quality-of-life. Intervention studies have produced mixed findings, with some studies suggesting that sleep interventions may be potentially effective in improving both insomnia and mood symptoms. Intervention studies incorporating both behavioral and physiological measures of sleep, and larger and diverse samples may enhance the field's understanding of the complex interplay between sleep and mood in older adults.

Association between quality of life, sleep quality and mental disorders in Iranian older adults

Aging as a major challenge can affect the development and growth of countries all around the world. This study aimed to identify the subgroups of the elderly based on the quality of life (Qol), sleep quality, and common mental disorders and assess the role of demographic characteristics on the membership of participants in each latent class. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1064 people over the age of 60 years. The sample was selected through cluster sampling in northern Iran. All participants completed six sets of checklists and questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using latent class analysis. Three latent classes were identified; namely, (1) healthy (66.8%), (2) anxious and with poor sleep quality (28.6%), and unhealthy (4.6%). Being Female significantly increased the odds of membership in classes 2 and 3 compared to class 1. Furthermore, living in urban areas increased the odds of belonging to class 2 and class 3 compared to class 1. Illiteracy was also shown to increase the odds of being in class 3 in comparison to class 1. Results from the present indicate that the co-occurrence of health problems in 33.2% of the elderly was observed in various forms. The results of this study can be used in prioritizing health programs for the elderly and emphasizing high-risk groups.

Sleep disturbances in early clinical stages of psychotic and bipolar disorders: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To provide a qualitative view and quantitative measure of sleep disturbances across and between early stages - clinical ultra high-risk and first episode - of psychotic and bipolar disorders.

METHODS

Electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, PsychINFO) were searched up to March 2021 for studies comparing sleep measures between individuals with an early stage and controls. Standard mean deviations (Cohen's d effect sizes) were calculated for all comparisons and pooled with random-effects models. Chi-square tests were used for direct between-subgroups (ultra high-risk vs first episode) comparisons of standard mean deviations. The effects of age, sex ratio, symptoms and treatment were examined in meta-regression analyses.

RESULTS

A database search identified 13 studies that contrasted sleep measures between individuals with an early stage (N = 537) and controls (N = 360). We observed poorer subjective sleep quality (standard mean deviation = 1.32; 95% confidence interval, [1.01, 1.62]), shorter total sleep time (standard mean deviation =-0.44; 95% confidence interval, [-0.67, -0.21]), lower sleep efficiency (standard mean deviation = -0.72; 95% confidence interval, [-1.08, -0.36]), longer sleep onset latency (standard mean deviation = 0.75; 95% confidence interval, [0.45, 1.06]) and longer duration of wake after sleep onset (standard mean deviation = 0.49; 95% confidence interval, [0.21, 0.77]) were observed in early stages compared to controls. No significant differences were observed for any of the reported electroencephalographic parameters of sleep architecture. No significant between-subgroups differences were observed. Meta-regressions revealed a significant effect of the age and the antipsychotic status on subjective measures of sleep.

CONCLUSION

The early stage population presents with significant impairments of subjective sleep quality continuity, duration and initiation. Systematic assessments of sleep in early intervention settings may allow early identification and treatment of sleep disturbances in this population.

The role of depression and physical activity in the association of between sleep quality, and duration with and health-related quality of life among the elderly: a UK Biobank cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Although studies have shown that sleep quality (duration) is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), most of these studies have been small-sized and targeted at young and middle-aged adults. In addition, few studies have explored the path mechanism of sleep disorders leading to impaired HRQoL.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the association between sleep quality and duration and HRQoL among the elderly in the United Kingdom, assess whether depression mediated the association, and explore the role of physical activity (PA) in the path association.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the baseline survey of the UK Biobank, a large prospective cohort study enrolling more than 500,000 participants, of which 52,551 older adults (aged ≥60 years) were included in the study. HRQoL was assessed using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions. Tobit and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the association between sleep quality and duration and HRQoL. The mediating and moderated mediation models were estimated using the PROCESS macro and MEDCURVE macro.

RESULTS

The Tobit model showed that the elderly with short or long sleep duration (β = - 0.062, 95% confidence interval [CI] = - 0.071 to - 0.053; β = - 0.072, 95% CI = - 0.086 to - 0.058) had worse HRQoL after adjusting potential covariates. In the logistic regression models, we found an inverted U-shaped association between sleep duration and HRQoL. Moreover, a significant positive association was observed between sleep quality and HRQoL (all P < 0.05). The results also revealed that depression mediated the association between sleep disorders and HRQoL (sleep quality: β = 0.008, 95% CI = 0.007-0.010; sleep duration: θ = 0.001 [mean], 95% CI = 0.001-0.002). Furthermore, PA moderated all paths among sleep quality and duration, depression, and HRQoL, and greater effects were observed in the elderly with lower PA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings show that poor sleep quality and duration were independently associated with worse HRQoL among the elderly in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, PA buffers the mediating effect of depression and adverse effects of sleep disorders on HRQoL. It is essential to properly increase PA and provide early intervention for depression in the elderly with sleep disorders to improve their HRQoL.

Association Between Age and Sleep Quality: Findings From a Community Health Survey

Background and Objective This study aimed to investigate the changes in sleep quality with increasing age and the effect of age on the components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).Methods We used data from the Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2018. A total of 228340 participants in this nationwide survey. Sleep quality was assessed using the PSQI. Adults aged ≥ 19 years were divided into six age groups and one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) was used to compare the mean values of PSQI of each group. By comparing the scores for each PSQI component in those aged ≥ 65 years and < 65 years, we aimed to reveal the differences in special components according to age group.Results In total, 223334 respondents were included in the study. Based on a one-way ANOVA, the PSQI score generally increased with age. Although the average PSQI score of patients in their 40s was lower than that of patients in their 30s, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.11). When the PSQI component was compared between the population aged over and under 65 years, the population aged ≥ 65 years scored higher in most components. In contrast, daytime dysfunction scored higher in the population aged < 65 years.Conclusions Sleep quality tends to decrease with increasing age. Several factors, including physiological changes, underlying physical conditions, and psychosocial factors, may contribute to a decrease in sleep quality with age.

Are Sleep Problems Related to Psychological Distress in Healthy Aging during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Review

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, characterized by home confinement and other restrictive measures to reduce the spread of the infection, led to significant changes in people's habits and lifestyle. One of the most common problems is the worsening of sleep quality or quantity, which could have negative effects on psychological wellbeing, particularly in older adults. The purposes of the present literature review considering healthy aging subjects are (a) to examine the existing research on sleep alterations during the current pandemic and (b) to highlight possible relationships between sleep problems and psychological distress. A systematic search strategy was implemented according to PRISMA guidelines in the international literature online databases, up to 1 July 2021. After identification and screening phases, 11 articles were included in this review. The studies found possible associations between sleep problems and mood changes-particularly in terms of depression and anxiety. In addition, altered sleep patterns seemed to be related to changes in individual aspects, lifestyle, and attitudes adopted by older adults during the COVID-19 lockdown. Thus, the pandemic could affect the sleep and psychological wellbeing of the older population, even in healthy aging.

Associations Between Sleep Quality and Health Span: A Prospective Cohort Study Based on 328,850 UK Biobank Participants

OBJECTIVE

To examine the associations between sleep quality and health span using a prospective cohort design based on the UK Biobank (UKB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This longitudinal cohort study enrolled 328,850 participants aged between 37 and 73 years from UKB to examine the associations between sleep quality and risk of terminated health span. End of health span was defined by eight events strongly associated with longevity (cancer, death, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, dementia, and diabetes), and a sleep score was generated according to five sleep behavioral factors (sleep duration, chronotype, sleeplessness, daytime sleepiness, and snoring) to characterize sleep quality. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Moreover, we calculated population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) to reflect the public health significance of healthy sleep quality.

RESULTS

Compared with poor sleep quality, participants with healthy sleep quality had a 15% (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.81-0.88) reduced risk of terminated health span, and those of less-healthy sleep quality had a 12% (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.85-0.92) reduced risk. Linear trend results indicated that the risk of terminated health span decreased by 4% for every additional sleep score. Nearly 15% health span termination events in this cohort would have been prevented if a healthy sleep behavior pattern was adhered to (PAR%: 15.30, 95% CI: 12.58-17.93).

CONCLUSION

Healthy sleep quality was associated with a reduced risk of premature end of health span, suggesting healthy sleep behavior may extend health span. However, further studies are suggested for confirmation of causality and potential mechanism.

Effects of HIIT and MIIT Suspension Training Programs on Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Poor sleep quality lessens general health quality and is related to physical and mental problems. Moreover, fatigue is one of the foremost common complaints in medical care and plays a role in the decreasing quality of life of the older population. For these reasons, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of high- and moderate-intensity interval training programs (HIIT vs. MIIT)-both consisting of twelve weeks of TRX training-on the sleep quality and fatigue levels of the elderly. A randomized controlled clinical trial (NCT03404830) was conducted. A total of 82 subjects were randomized to either a HIIT group (n = 28) that performed a main squat activity with a suspension system, comprising four four-minute intervals between 90-95% of the maximum heart rate (HR), an MIIT group (n = 27) with an intensity of 70% of the maximum HR, and a control group (CG) (n = 27) that continued their daily lifestyle. The two exercise groups trained twice a week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 45 min. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and fatigue was assessed using the fatigue severity scale (FSS). Outcomes were measured before the intervention and after the intervention period. Post-intervention sleep quality measurements revealed a statistically significant interaction regarding group × time (p < 0.005) and fatigue (p = 0.002). Specifically, fatigue decreased in the HIIT group between both measurement moments (p = 0.003). In addition, differences were obtained in the post-intervention measure between the HIIT and MIIT groups (p = 0.013) and HIIT and control (p = 0.029). Our analysis indicates that a population of the elderly showed improvements in sleep quality and fatigue after performing a high-intensity intervention using suspension training (TRX), with markedly better results in the HIIT group.

Anxiety and executive functions in mid-to-late life: the moderating role of sleep

Objectives: The goal of the study was to examine the influence of sleep efficiency on the relationship between anxiety and executive functions.Method: Secondary data analyses of 82 community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults were performed (M age = 63.00, SD = 8.64). Anxiety was measured using the trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Sleep efficiency was measured using one-week of sleep diary data. Two executive functions, cognitive flexibility and inductive reasoning, were measured using the Trail-Making Test and Letter Series task, respectively. SPSS PROCESS macro software version 2 was used to assess the moderating role of sleep efficiency in the relationship between anxiety and executive functions.Results: Sleep significantly moderated the relationship between anxiety and inductive reasoning. Among middle-aged and older adults with high anxiety, those with good sleep efficiency displayed significantly better inductive reasoning than those with poor sleep efficiency after controlling for age, gender, and education (ΔR2 = .05, p = .017). Sleep efficiency did not significantly moderate the relationship between anxiety and cognitive flexibility.Conclusion: Sleep efficiency weakened the association between anxiety and inductive reasoning in middle-aged and older adults. Evidence from the study suggests better sleep may limit the negative effects of anxiety on executive functions in mid-to-late life. Further research is needed to elucidate the impact of anxiety and sleep on executive functions in clinical populations with anxiety.

Effectiveness of a Qigong program on sleep quality among community-dwelling older adults with mild to moderate depression

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a Qigong program on older adults in the Thai community suffering from mild to moderate depression.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized controlled trial study was conducted in a public health service (PHS) center setting. Sixty-six older adults aged 60–90 years with mild to moderate depressive symptoms measured by the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS: scores 13–24) were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. The subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Thai version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (TPSQI). The Qigong program group was given 12 weeks of Qigong training including three sessions per week, while the control group followed normal PHS activities (singing and praying). The outcome measure was the change in the TGDS from baseline to 12 weeks.

Findings

Participants in the Qigong program group had a significantly improved TPSQI global score (p < 0.001), subjective sleep quality (p < 0.001), and sleep latency (p < 0.05) after 12 weeks of intervention, while those in the control group showed no significant difference in sleep quality. Compared with the control group, the Qigong program group reported significantly better sleep quality throughout the 12-week period. The prevalence of poor sleep quality in this population was 82 percent.

Originality/value

This study confirmed that the Qigong program could improve sleep quality in older adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms as the Qigong program conferred more significant improvements than the usual program.

CBT for late-life insomnia and the accuracy of sleep and wake perceptions: Results from a randomized-controlled trial

Subjective and objective estimates of sleep are often discordant among individuals with insomnia who typically under-report sleep time and over-report wake time at night. This study examined the impact and durability of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia on improving the accuracy of sleep and wake perceptions in older adults, and tested whether changes in sleep quality were related to changes in the accuracy of sleep/wake perceptions. One-hundred and fifty-nine older veterans (97% male, mean age 72.2 years) who met diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder were randomized to: (1) cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (n = 106); or (2) attention control (n = 53). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, 6-months and 12-months follow-up. Sleep measures included objective (via wrist actigraphy) and subjective (via self-report diary) total sleep time and total wake time, along with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score. Discrepancy was computed as the difference between objective and subjective estimates of wake and sleep. Minutes of discrepancy were compared between groups across time, as were the relationships between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores and subsequent changes in discrepancy. Compared with controls, participants randomized to cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia became more accurate (i.e. minutes discrepancy was reduced) in their perceptions of sleep/wake at post-treatment, 6-months and 12-months follow-up (p < .05). Improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores at each study assessment preceded and predicted reduced discrepancy at the next study assessment (p < .05). Cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces sleep/wake discrepancy among older adults with insomnia. The reductions may be driven by improvements in sleep quality. Improving sleep quality appears to be a viable path to improving sleep perception and may contribute to the underlying effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia.

Late life depression: nursing actions that can help

PURPOSE

This article explains the symptoms of late life depression (LLD) and discusses evidence-informed actions that nurses can implement to provide older adults with the help they need.

CONCLUSIONS

Recognizing and addressing depression in older adults can enhance quality of life.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

People with LLD may not appear sad or express feelings of depression. Instead, they demonstrate loss of interest, frailty, cognitive impairment, suicidal ideation, unexplained somatic complaints, and loneliness. Documenting symptoms, screening, and assessing suicidal ideation are essential. Positive outcomes are associated with antidepressant medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, neuromodulation therapies, and exercise.

Sour sleep, sweet revenge? Aggressive pleasure as a potential mechanism underlying poor sleep quality's link to aggression

Sleep quality is a critical component of successful human functioning. Poor sleep quality is associated with aggressive behavior, yet the psychological mechanisms that drive this effect are incompletely understood. We tested the prediction that the association between poor sleep quality and aggression would be explained, in part, by a magnified experience of positive affect during aggression. We conducted 2 cross-sectional studies (Study 1, N = 388; Study 2, N = 317) and a third preregistered study (N = 379), which tested for mediation across 2 waves that were separated by 14-42 days. Across all 3 studies, we replicated the positive association between poor sleep quality and aggression. However, we did not observe compelling or consistent evidence that poor sleep quality is linked to greater positive affect during aggression. Such aggressive pleasure was temporally stable and predicted subsequent increases in aggressive behavior. These findings support a reinforcement model of aggressive affect, in which the pleasure of aggression promotes greater aggression over time-perhaps explaining why some individuals are more dispositionally aggressive than others. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Does abuse in late life worsen sleep quality? A two-year prospective cohort study among rural older adults

BACKGROUND

Elder abuse and neglect (EAN) is a growing public health problem, and numerous adverse health effects of abuse in late life have been documented. Little is known, however, about the impact of elder abuse on sleep quality. This study examines the longitudinal relationship between EAN and sleep quality.

METHODS

This was a 2-year prospective cohort study involving 1927 older adults in a rural Malaysian district, Kuala Pilah. A multi-stage cluster sampling strategy was employed. After 2 years, 1189 respondents were re-assessed. EAN was determined using the modified Conflict Tactic Scale, while sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

The prevalence of elder abuse was 8.1% (95% CI:6.9,9.3). Longitudinal analysis using generalized estimating equations showed that elder abuse contributed to higher PSQI scores (B:0.49, 95% CI:0.17,0.58). Sub-analyses demonstrated that psychological abuse and neglect had significant longitudinal relationships with increase of PSQI scores, while other subtypes did not.

CONCLUSION

Abuse in late life, particularly psychological abuse and neglect, result in greater PSQI scores. Even though this may imply decline in sleep quality, our findings were not considered clinically significant as they did not exceed the clinical cut-off score of five. Nevertheless, sleep quality is an important determinant of health and a predictor of mortality among older adults; thus, understanding its relationship with abuse is useful to health care providers and policy-makers in improving health services and upgrading preventive measures.

Psychological Interventions for Late-life Insomnia: Current and Emerging Science

Purpose of Review

Late-life insomnia is a serious medical condition associated with many untoward consequences. The high prevalence of late-life insomnia, along with the concomitant risks inherent in the use of hypnotic medications in older adults necessitates non-pharmacological (i.e., psychological) treatment options. We aim to summarize and evaluate the state-of-the-science of psychological treatment options for late-life insomnia.

Recent Findings

Cumulative scientific evidence suggests the efficacy of psychological treatment of late-life insomnia. During the previous decade, trials of psychological treatments for insomnia have begun to test various modifications to treatments that have the potential to improve access for older adults, along with expanding their focus to include individuals with comorbid conditions that are common to older adults. While these modifications represent positive advances in the science of treatment for late-life insomnia, the evidence is still largely explanatory/efficacious in nature.

Summary

Psychological strategies represent the best approaches for the treatment of late-life insomnia. Future investigations would be wise to progressively move towards increasingly pragmatic/effectiveness investigations, adding to the literature base regarding the treatment of late-life insomnia under usual/real-world conditions as opposed to ideal/artificial conditions.

Association of intensive care unit delirium with sleep disturbance and functional disability after critical illness: an observational cohort study

Background

In medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients, the predictors of post-discharge sleep disturbance and functional disability are poorly understood. ICU delirium is a risk factor with a plausible link to sleep disturbance and disability. This study evaluated the prevalence of self-reported post-ICU sleep disturbance and increased functional disability, and their association with MICU delirium and other ICU factors.

Methods

This was an observational cohort study of MICU patients enrolled in a biorepository and assessed upon MICU admission by demographics, comorbidities, and baseline characteristics. Delirium was assessed daily using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Telephone follow-up interview instruments occurred after hospital discharge and included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADLs, IADLs) for disability. We define sleep disturbance as a PSQI score > 5 and increased disability as an increase in composite BADL/IADL score at follow-up relative to baseline. Multivariable regression modeled the associations of delirium and other MICU factors on follow-up PSQI scores and change in disability scores.

Results

PSQI and BADL/IADL instruments were completed by 112 and 122 participants, respectively, at mean 147 days after hospital discharge. Of those surveyed, 63% had sleep disturbance by PSQI criteria, and 37% had increased disability by BADL/IADL scores compared to their pre-MICU baseline. Total days of MICU delirium (p = 0.013), younger age (p = 0.013), and preexisting depression (p = 0.025) were significantly associated with higher PSQI scores at follow-up. Lower baseline disability (p < 0.001), older age (p = 0.048), and less time to follow-up (p = 0.024) were significantly associated with worsening post-ICU disability, while the occurrence of MICU delirium showed a trend toward association (p = 0.077).

Conclusions

After adjusting for important covariates, total days of MICU delirium were significantly associated with increased post-discharge sleep disturbance. Delirium incidence showed a trend toward association with increased functional disability in the year following discharge.