0266 Healthy Sleep, Sharp Minds: Investigating Psychosocial Links Between Sleep Health and Cognition in Later Life

Abstract Introduction Despite the well-documented effects of poor sleep on well-being and cognition, particularly in later life, considerably less attention has been given to the role of sleep health in cognitive functioning. The mechanisms underlying the sleep health—cognition association, including psychosocial factors like depression, anxiety, and physical activity, remain poorly understood. This study examined associations between sleep health and cognitive functioning in later life and evaluated whether psychosocial factors mediated these associations. Methods Middle-aged and older adults participated in an online study (N=370, age range 55-78, Mage=62.8, 60.3% female). Participants completed various questionnaires measuring global sleep health (RUSATED), sleep regularity (Sleep Regularity Questionnaire; SRQ), subjective cognition (PROMIS-Cognitive Function), and psychosocial variables (depression, anxiety, loneliness, physical activity, sedentary behavior). After completing the survey, participants engaged in online cognitive testing to measure attention, memory, and executive function. Correlational analyses explored associations between variables while parallel mediation analyses with bootstrapped confidence intervals (CI) explored whether each sleep variable was indirectly associated with subjective and objective cognition, through psychosocial variables. Indirect effects with CIs that did not include zero were interpreted as significant. Results Greater RUSATED and SRQ scores were correlated with better subjective cognition, attention, memory, and executive functioning (p’s <.05). In parallel mediation models, RUSATED exerted significant indirect effects on subjective cognition and memory via anxiety and sedentary behavior, and on executive functioning via anxiety. No indirect effects were observed for attention. The SRQ showed significant indirect effects on subjective cognition via depression, anxiety, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Depression, anxiety, and sedentary behavior were significant mediators for memory, while anxiety and physical activity mediated executive functioning. No indirect effects emerged for attention. Conclusion Better global sleep health and greater sleep regularity were associated with better subjective and objective cognitive functioning. Depression, anxiety, physical activity, and sedentary behavior emerged as key psychosocial pathways linking sleep with cognition. Future experimental research is needed to clarify how these psychosocial factors contribute to changes in sleep and cognition in later life. Support (if any)