Insomnia In Middle Age May Lead To Poor Cognitive Functioning Later In Life: Study

According to the study, memory problems, and problems in learning ability and concentration increased as the insomnia symptoms were prolonged.

The study findings indicate that severe insomnia symptoms were associated with worse cognitive function among those who were on statutory pension. | Representative Photo

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New Delhi: Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland have found that insomnia in middle-age may lead to poor cognitive functioning later in life. The researchers investigated the development of insomnia symptoms in midlife and their effects on memory, learning ability, and concentration after retirement. 

The study describing the findings was recently published in the Journal of Aging and Health.

A follow-up period of 15 to 17 years was considered by the researchers. Long-term insomnia symptoms and poorer cognitive functioning later in life were found to have a clear connection.

Findings Of The Study

In a statement released by University of Helsinki, Antti Etholén, the lead author on the paper, said the findings indicate that severe insomnia symptoms were associated with worse cognitive function among those who were on statutory pension. 

According to the study, memory problems, and problems in learning ability and concentration increased as the insomnia symptoms were prolonged.

How The New Study Is Special

Though previous research has shown that there are a number of mechanisms which can explain how sleep can affect cognitive functioning, the new study is exceptional because it has considered a long, follow-up period for insomnia symptoms, the statement said.

If insomnia symptoms eased over the years, cognitive functioning was also found to be better at retirement age compared to the problems persisting, the researchers noted in the study.

Tea Lallukka, one of the authors on the paper, said that based on their findings, early intervention tackling insomnia symptoms, or measures aimed at improving the quality of sleep would be justified.

How Can Sleep Quality Be Improved?

The different ways in which the quality of sleep can be improved include the regularity of the sleep rhythm, the appropriate temperature and brightness of the sleeping environment, and the optimal timing of physical exercise, coffee consumption, and eating, the study said.

According to Lallukka, intervention studies are still needed to ascertain the effects of measures in support of good sleep.

She said that in subsequent studies, it would be interesting to shed further light on instances such as whether the treatment of insomnia can slow down the development of memory disorders. Only self-reported memory symptoms could be taken into consideration in the present study, she said.