Sleep and Cognition

Abstract

How does sleep affect our brain functioning, and what happens when we do not receive our necessary “portion” of sleep? It is a well-known fact that sleep is essential for restoration of body and mind efficiency, while a lack of appropriate sleep adversely impacts mood, motor functions, and cognition, eventually affecting the quality of everyday life. Recent studies highlighted links between the amount of sleep disturbance and the severity of deterioration in some cognitive functions. Moreover, clinical observations indicate that sleep disturbances might be one of the earliest signs of neurodegenerative disorders, including early Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This chapter briefly reviews the relationships between sleep and cognition, and consider the evidence suggesting that sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are associated with poor cognitive functioning and, in clinical population, with cognitive decline.