Tag: cognitive health

Embracing sleep for cognitive health: Insights from our recent study

Dr Raha West presenting her findings in South Korea

Are you a morning ‘lark’ or a night ‘owl and how is this linked to brain performance? To mark Sleeptember, Dr Raha West from the Department of Surgery and Cancer explores her recent research on over 26,000 people which found those who are naturally more active in the evening scored better on intelligence, reasoning and memory tests.

As we slip towards Sleeptember, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of sleep, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the findings of our recent study published in the BMJ Public Health. Our analysis delves into how sleep duration, chronotype (whether you’re a morning person or an evening person), and various health and lifestyle factors influence cognitive performance in older adults. 

The Motivation Behind Our Study 

The importance of sleep in maintaining overall health, particularly brain health, has always intrigued me. The idea that our daily sleep patterns, including how long and when we sleep, could significantly impact our cognitive abilities led me to explore this further. Previous research has shown that poor sleep quality and duration are linked to various health issues. Still, the specific influence of chronotypes on cognition, especially in older adults, remains under-explored. 

Methodology and Participant Selection 

Our study utilised data from the UK Biobank, which includes a comprehensive set of health information from over half a million participants aged 40 and above. We focused on 26,820 individuals who completed detailed sleep and cognitive assessments. Participants were divided into two cohorts based on the cognitive tests they completed, ensuring a robust data analysis. 

Key Findings: Sleep Duration and Cognitive Performance 

We discovered that sleeping 7-9 hours per night is optimal for cognitive health. Both shorter and longer sleep durations were associated with poorer cognitive performance. This finding emphasise the importance of maintaining adequate sleep duration to support brain function.   

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Stroke survivors’ cognitive health under the spotlight: New research aims to improve diagnosis and treatment

Dr Fatemeh Geranmayeh

Did you know stroke is the largest cause of disability in the UK and the fourth biggest killer? To mark Stroke Awareness Month, Dr Fatemeh Geranmayeh from the Department of Brain Sciences sheds light on her recent research looking at the recovery of cognitive functions after cerebrovascular disease and the ‘prediction problem.’  

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Given that stroke strikes every five minutes here in the UK, chances are that you personally know someone affected by stroke.  Of the 1.3 million stroke survivors, three quarters have problems with cognition (that is problems with memory, thinking, language, problem solving, numbers or planning actions). A significant proportion (a third) develop dementia within five years. It’s not surprising therefore that vascular brain health is beginning to get the attention that it deserves in the field of dementia research.  

The spectrum of post-stroke cognitive deficits is broad with significant negative impacts on therapy engagement, mental health, employment and societal costs. Consequently, diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment following stroke have been highlighted as priority by patients and national guidelines for stroke management. 

From a research perspective, much effort has been put into understanding the ‘prediction problem’; that is which patients are likely to a) recover cognition, b) show cognitive deterioration requiring additional monitoring and care needs, and c) benefit most from personalised therapy.   

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