Middle-aged individuals who do not get enough sleep may not experience the cognitive benefits of exercise in protecting against memory and thinking decline, according to a study by researchers from University College London (UCL). The study involved individuals in their 50s and 60s who engaged in regular physical activity but slept less than six hours per night. After a decade, their cognitive functions, including attention, memory, and learning, declined at a faster rate compared to those who slept more. The findings, published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity journal, underscore the importance of sufficient sleep in preventing cognitive decline as people age. Lead author Dr. Mikaela Bloomberg suggests that getting enough sleep is necessary to fully reap the cognitive advantages of physical activity. The study analyzed data from nearly 9,000 individuals aged 50 and over from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Elsa). Cognitive function was assessed over a 10-year period using memory and verbal fluency tests, while questionnaires gauged sleep duration and levels of physical activity. Initially, individuals who were more physically active had better cognitive function regardless of sleep duration. However, over time, physically active individuals with shorter sleep duration experienced a more rapid cognitive decline in their 50s and 60s. Notably, individuals aged 70 and over maintained the benefits of exercise on cognitive function despite shorter sleep. Co-author Prof Andrew Steptoe emphasizes the importance of identifying factors that protect cognitive function in middle and later life to prolong cognitively healthy years and potentially delay dementia diagnosis. While physical activity is recognized by the World Health Organization as promoting cognitive function, interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximize long-term cognitive health benefits.

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