title: Self-reported sleep duration mitigates the association between inflammation and cognitive functioning in hospitalized older men.
abstract: Examination of predictors of late-life cognitive functioning is particularly salient in at-risk older adults, such as those who have been recently hospitalized. Sleep and inflammation are independently related to late-life cognitive functioning. The potential role of sleep as a moderator of the relationship between inflammation and global cognitive functioning has not been adequately addressed. We examined the relationship between self-reported sleep duration, inflammatory markers, and general cognitive functioning in hospitalized older men. Older men (n = 135; Mean age = 72.9 ± 9.7 years) were recruited from inpatient rehabilitation units at a VA Medical Center to participate in a cross-sectional study of sleep. Participants completed the Mini-Mental State Examination and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and underwent an 8 a.m. blood draw to measure inflammatory markers [i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)]. Hierarchical regression analyses (controlling for age, education, race, depression, pain, health comorbidity, and BMI) revealed that higher levels of CRP and sICAM are associated with higher global cognitive functioning in older men with sleep duration ≥6 h (β = -0.19, β = -0.18, p's < 0.05, respectively), but not in those with short sleep durations (p's > 0.05). In elderly hospitalized men, sleep duration moderates the association between inflammation and cognitive functioning. These findings have implications for the clinical care of older men within medical settings.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA ; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dzierzewski
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Yeonsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA ; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Constance H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA ; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jouldjian
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA ; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cathy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Alessi
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA ; Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA ; Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA, USA ; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
keywords: cognition; hospitalization; inflammation; older adults; sleep duration