Day-to-Day Sleep Efficiency and Driving Behaviors in Older Adults with and without Cognitive Impairment
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INTRODUCTION
Sleep disturbances are common in older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment. This study examines how day-to-day sleep quality impacts real-world driving behaviors, offering insights into sleep as a functional biomarker of cognitive health.
METHODS
We monitored 149 community-dwelling older adults (90 cognitively impaired, 59 unimpaired) over 12 weeks. Sleep was measured via wrist-worn actigraphy and driving data via an in-vehicle sensor system. A zero-inflated Poisson regression model examined whether sleep efficiency was associated next-day driving likelihood and frequency, and whether these relationships varied by cognitive status.
RESULTS
Better sleep efficiency increased the likelihood of driving the following day more among cognitively impaired than unimpaired participants. Higher sleep efficiency was associated with increased driving frequency in both groups.
DISCUSSION
These findings underscore the importance of daily sleep variability as a potential digital biomarker for functional abilities in older adults, highlighting opportunities for early intervention to preserve mobility and independence.
