Association between Sleep Onset Problem and Subjective Cognitive Complaints among Japanese Older Adults during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Older adults are more likely to have age-related sleep problems, which may result in the reduction of cognitive functions. This study was designed to examine the relationship between sleep onset problem and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) among community-dwelling older adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In this study, 186 older adults aged 65 and above were enrolled and were instructed to respond to an online survey. This survey comprised questions regarding sleep quality (four items such as sleep duration, use of sleep medication), SCC (six domains), and sociodemographic information (eight items such as age, gender, stress condition). We classified the participants into two groups according to the presence or absence of sleep onset problem and examined the relationship between each SCC domain. The sleep onset problem (+) (n = 70) group had significantly higher frequency of scheduled memory decline, misplacement, disorientation in time, word recall decline, and forgetfulness. Furthermore, the sleep onset problem affected the participants' scheduled memory after adjusted for potential covariates (OR, 2.28; 95%CI, 1.13-4.73; p = 0.02). Older adults with sleep onset problem may need to be evaluated for SCC and supported in term of both sleep status and SCC.

Association between Regular Exercise and Self-Rated Health and Sleep Quality among Adults in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Regular exercise may be associated with better self-rated health and sleep status. However, this correlation among various age groups, such as young, middle-aged, and older people, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic, has not been examined. This study examined the correlation between regular exercise and self-rated health and sleep quality among adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using an online survey conducted between February 26 and 27, 2021. A total of 1410 adults in Japan (age range, 20-86 years) completed the online survey. Regular exercise was divided into: (1) more than 30 min of moderate exercise a day, (2) more than 2 days per week, and (3) continuous for 1 year or longer. Self-rated health and sleep quality were assessed using the Likert scale. After adjusting for multiple confounders, regular exercise was correlated with decreased poor self-rated health and poor sleep quality in middle-aged adults; however, no significant correlation was observed among young and older adults. The promotion of regular exercise among middle-aged people during the COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to better self-rated health and sleep quality status.