Being often tired during the day could be a warning sign of dementia

Feeling tired during the day is at first glance a harmless situation, which reflects a significant need for rest. In reality, this drowsiness could be a sign of a more serious problem for part of the population.

In a study published Wednesday November 6, 2024 in the journal Neurologyresearchers have in fact revealed that this drowsiness, when it occurs at an advanced age, could be linked to a higher risk of developing a disease that could lead to dementia.

Doubly diagnosed dementia in people with motor cognitive risk syndrome

For this study, 445 adults with an average age of 76 walked on treadmills so that their initial gait was recorded. They were then evaluated each year from 2011 to 2018.

The researchers also collected annual data on participants’ memories of their sleep quality during the two weeks preceding the assessments, focusing on several components of sleep, including daytime dysfunction.

They found that 35.5% of participants with excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of enthusiasm developed motor cognitive risk syndromecompared to 6.7% of people not suffering from these problems.

In detail, 36 participants developed motor cognitive risk syndrome. Also, among the components of sleep, only daytime dysfunction was associated with a 3.3 times higher risk of acquiring motor cognitive risk syndrome.

This motor cognitive risk syndrome is characterized by slow walking speed and complaints of memory problems in older adults who do not suffer from dementia or motor disability. The risk of developing dementia more than doubles in people who have it.

A step towards more early intervention?

This study expanded research on the subject. Until today, little is known about the relationship between certain aspects of sleep and dementia syndromes.

However, establishing a link between sleep dysfunction and motor cognitive risk syndrome is important, because it could allow early intervention. Caregivers could then ask patients about their sleeping habits and examine their walking speed.

This study, however, has some limitations. The sleep measurements were in fact carried out by the participants and not by the scientists. Reports can therefore be distorted by people with memory problems.

The authors concede that although the duration of their work, around 3 years, is longer than that of certain previous studies, the follow-up period remains short.