Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the nighttime sleep-wake patterns of institutionalized elderly people with cognitive dysfunction, and to clarify the relationship between sleep disorders, activities of daily living (ADL), and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Nighttime sleep was measured using a sensor mat sleep meter in 39 elderly participants with cognitive dysfunction living in a facility covered by public aid providing long-term care to the elderly (an intensive care home for the elderly). Furthermore, we assessed the association of our sleep-wake results with ADL and BPSD.
Our results showed an average sleep time of 503.3 min (±122.3) and a mean sleep efficiency of 75.0 % (±17.6). The more active our participants were (higher ADL), the shorter was their sleep time. However, we did not observe any associations between ADL and the total sleeping time or sleep efficiency. Moreover, the sleep time of participants with a higher level of BPSD was shorter than those with lower levels of BPSD. In addition, high BPSD participants had lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency, and more wake time after sleep onset.
It is suggested that elderly people with cognitive dysfunction and a high incidence or frequency of BPSD may have comorbid sleep disorders. We believe that the results of this study will help inform better sleep care practices for older people with dementia and cognitive dysfunction.
