The protective role of cognitive reserve on sleeping disorders on an aging population. A cross-sectional study

Sleep disorders and depression have been identified as risk factors for aging-related problems. This cross-sectional studiy explored the protective role of the cognitive reserve on a sample of 377 healthy aging adults. After assessing participants’ cognitive reserve (CR) in an extensive and comprehensive way, participants also filled out self-report scales aimed at measuring their sleep quality (PSQI - Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and depressive symptoms. A series of regression models and path analyses showed that higher CR levels predicted lower PSQI scores overall, even after controlling for depressive symptoms, age, and gender. Depressive symptoms had significant role as a moderators of the effect of CR on sleep disorders. The possible effects of interventions aimed at increasing the CR in preventing the incidence of sleep disorders, cognitive decline, and other aging-related disorders are discussed.