REM Sleep is Associated with Cognition and AD Biomarkers Longitudinally in Cognitively Normal and Impaired Older Adults

Overall, REM characteristics differed as a function of age, sex, and clinical status. Across CN and CI individuals, REM characteristics were associated with cognitive performance and AD biomarker status. Longitudinal data demonstrated the rate of change in cognition and AD biomarkers in the time preceding PSG assessment was also strongly associated with REM characteristics. These findings indicate that accumulation of AD pathology over time may negatively impact REM patterns, highlighting the need to better understand the longitudinal relationship between sleep characteristics, AD progression, and cognitive decline, particularly in the case of interventions aimed at improving REM sleep quality and how AD (anti-amyloid and anti-tau) therapies impact REM patterns.