DYNAMICS BETWEEN SLEEP PATTERN AND BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA (BPSD) - Abstract citation

Sep 29, 2026

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) increase caregiver burden and are linked to higher mortality, yet the day-to-day predictive role of sleep disturbances remains unclear. This study used two weeks of wrist actigraphy for sleep in older adults with dementia and a two-week daily symptom diary by caregivers (154 dyads). Panel vector autoregression showed prior-day awakenings significantly predicted next-day irritability and appetite or eating disorders. Conversely, delusions and other BPSD symptoms affected subsequent sleep, increasing total sleep time, awakenings, and mean awakening length, with bidirectional causality between irritability and awakenings, supporting a vicious cycle.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study aim

Methods and data sources

Sleep-to-BPSD effects

BPSD-to-sleep effects

Bidirectional findings and implications

FAQs

What question does the study address about BPSD and sleep?

It tests whether sleep disturbances can predict the occurrence of BPSD the following day, using a time-series perspective rather than a single snapshot.

How were sleep and BPSD symptoms measured?

Older adults with dementia wore wrist actigraphy continuously for two weeks for sleep data, while caregivers recorded BPSD daily for two weeks in a symptom diary.

What did the model find about awakenings and next-day symptoms?

Previous-day awakenings during sleep had a significant effect on next-day irritability and appetite or eating disorders.

How did BPSD symptoms influence sleep patterns afterward?

Some BPSD symptoms, including delusions, significantly affected next-day sleep patterns, increasing total sleep time, the number of awakenings, and mean awakening length.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Jordan Avery