Association of sleep spindle characteristics with executive functioning in healthy sedentary middle‐aged and older adults

Abstract To determine the relationship between sleep spindle characteristics (density, power and frequency), executive functioning and cognitive decline in older adults, we studied a convenience subsample of healthy middle‐aged and older participants of the Brain in Motion study. Participants underwent a single night of unattended in‐home polysomnography with neurocognitive testing carried out shortly afterwards. Spectral analysis of the EEG was performed to derive spindle characteristics in both central and frontal derivations during non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) Stage 2 and 3. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine associations between spindle characteristics and cognitive outcomes, with age, body mass index (BMI), periodic limb movements index (PLMI) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) as covariates. NREM Stage 2 total spindle density was significantly associated with executive functioning (central: β = .363, p = .016; frontal: β = .408, p = .004). NREM Stage 2 fast spindle density was associated with executive functioning (central: β = .351, p = .022; frontal: β = .380, p = .009) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (MoCA, central: β = .285, p = .037; frontal: β = .279, p = .032). NREM Stage 2 spindle frequency was also associated with MoCA score (central: β = .337, p = .013). Greater spindle density and fast spindle density were associated with better executive functioning and less cognitive decline in our study population. Our cross‐sectional design cannot infer causality. Longitudinal studies will be required to assess the ability of spindle characteristics to predict future cognitive status.