O17 A systematic review of the effects of sleep duration and daytime alertness on cognitive function across the adult lifespan

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Farrell, Seamas and Ewart, Catriona and Fleming, Leanne and Nicholls, Louise A. Brown (2026) O17 A systematic review of the effects of sleep duration and daytime alertness on cognitive function across the adult lifespan. BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 13 (Suppl ). A12-A13. (https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2026-bss.17)

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Abstract

Introduction Both sleep and cognition undergo significant change throughout the adult lifespan (Scullin & Bliwise, 2015). Recent research indicates that sleep duration and daytime alertness are two key sleep parameters that are associated with impaired cognitive functioning during ageing (Buysse, 2014). We systematically review the literature on relationships between these sleep parameters and cognitive functioning. Uniquely, we take a lifespan approach by considering effects in young, middle-aged, and older adults, across specific cognitive domains (i.e., processing speed, attention/executive function, visuospatial ability, working memory, long-term memory/learning, language, & global cognition). Methods Included studies must have reported at least one measure of sleep duration and/or daytime alertness and at least one measure of cognition. Study samples must have included healthy human adults aged 18 or above. The databases searched were APA PsychInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, Medline, Pubmed, and Web of science, with 519 studies included at full-text review stage. Search terms and review strategy are pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024494775). Study quality is assessed using the MMAT tool (Hong et al., 2018). Results Fifty-six studies were included within the review and quality-assessed, with results comprising a narrative synthesis. A key finding was that long sleep duration was negatively associated with executive function/attention, working memory, long-term memory, and global cognitive function across all age ranges. Discussion Long sleep duration (but not short) was associated negatively with older adults cognitive function. Younger and middle-aged adults showed negative associations with short sleeping for working memory and executive function respectively in additon to long sleeping associations. Daytime alertness did not demonstrate any robust associations with cognitive function. This review contributes to the growing literature on the topic and shows robust links between sleep and cognition across the adult lifespan.

ORCID iDs

Farrell, Seamas, Ewart, Catriona, Fleming, Leanne ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6197-9214 and Nicholls, Louise A. Brown ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3520-6175;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)