Relationship Between Exercise, Physical Activity Levels, Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults.

The rapid increase in the prevalence of dementia in Taiwan poses an economic burden on healthcare systems as well as the families of the patients. Thus, how to prevent dementia is a crucial issue. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as cognitive decline objectively and subjectively and it has been deemed as a transitional state between normal cognition and dementia. Identifying and preventing MCI can be a venue for reducing the prevalence of dementia. Sleep and physical activity are modifiable risk factors of MCI. Both factors could influence brain structure, such as the volume of the hippocampus. As a result, physical activity and adequate sleep are helpful to prevent the decline of cognitive function. In addition, sleep could regulate physical activity and change cognitive function indirectly. To our knowledge, there has been no research investigating the relationship between sleep, physical activity, and cognitive function in Taiwan. Hence, this research will aim to explore the relationship between sleep, physical activity, and cognitive function. Whether sleep and physical activity can be predictors of MCI will be investigated. We will recruit 150 participants aged above 65, who haven't been diagnosed with MCI or dementia. The measurements will include the Chinese version of The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Chinese Version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE-C), and the Chinese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The relationship between sleep, physical activity level, and cognitive function will be analyzed by multiple linear regression and Pearson correlations. A prediction equation will be established.