Sleep and brain health: the roles of sleep duration and daytime alertness in cognitive functioning across the adult lifespan

在人口迅速老龄化、精神（“认知”）障碍和痴呆症发病率不断上升的背景下，我们的项目旨在促进大脑健康和预防认知能力下降。睡眠是一种可改变的影响认知的生活方式因素。我们将研究关键的睡眠参数及其与日常认知能力的关系。至关重要的是，由于研究通常侧重于特定年龄组和/或睡眠障碍患者，我们将考虑整个成人寿命的功能。此外，我们将全面探索睡眠对核心认知能力的影响。研究1将包括对迄今为止文献中重要睡眠参数的范围审查。我们将收集现有的证据，并综合研究它们对年轻人、中年人和老年人认知功能的影响。研究2将是一项大规模的调查，我们将在成年期考虑睡眠-认知关系，考虑到更广泛的健康和福祉方面（例如身体活动、健康和心理健康）。重要的是，我们将研究一系列具体的日常认知领域（如注意力、视觉和言语记忆、语言）。通过研究3中的焦点小组，我们将更好地了解睡眠不足的中老年成年人的经历，以及他们认为睡眠对日常认知的影响。从一开始，该项目将与我们的合作伙伴阿尔茨海默苏格兰进行广泛的知识交流和影响活动。研究4将包括共同设计和评估教育资源，以促进睡眠在大脑健康中的作用。根据共同编写的材料，还将通过公开讲座、在线资源（例如“工具包”）和讲习班开展相关的健康促进运动。该项目将促进科学和公众对睡眠对大脑健康影响的理解，促进成年期更好的睡眠，并有助于预防或延缓认知能力下降。

In the context of rapid population ageing and increasing rates of mental ('cognitive') impairment and dementia, our project is aimed at promoting brain health and preventing cognitive decline. Sleep is a modifiable lifestyle factor which impacts cognition. We will investigate key sleep parameters and their relationships with everyday cognitive abilities. Crucially, with research typically focusing on specific age groups and/or people with sleep disorders, we will consider functioning across the adult lifespan. Additionally, we will comprehensively explore the effects of sleep across the range of core cognitive abilities. Study 1 will comprise a scoping review of important sleep parameters from the literature thus far. We will gather the available evidence and synthesise the findings regarding their impacts on young, middle-aged, and older adults' cognitive functioning. Study 2 will be a large-scale survey in which we consider sleep-cognition relationships across adulthood, taking into account wider aspects of health and wellbeing (e.g. physical activity, health, and mental wellbeing). Importantly, we will investigate a range of specific, everyday cognitive domains (e.g. attention, visual and verbal memory, language). Using focus groups in Study 3, we will better understand the experiences of middle-aged and older adults with poor sleep, and their perceived impact of sleep on everyday cognition. From the outset, the project will feature extensive knowledge exchange and impact activities with our partner, Alzheimer Scotland. Study 4 will comprise the co-design and evaluation of educational resources for promoting the role of sleep in brain health. An associated health promotion campaign, based on the co-developed materials, will also be conducted via public talks, online resources (e.g. a 'Toolkit'), and workshops. The project will develop scientific and public understanding of the impacts of sleep on brain health, promote better sleep across adulthood, and help prevent or delay cognitive decline.