Feeling sleepy during the day could signal a more serious issue for some groups.

A new study published in the journal Neurology revealed a possible connection between daytime sleepiness in older people and dementia risk.

People who lack enthusiasm for activities and feel sleepy during the day were found to have a higher risk of developing a condition called motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).

‘HOW MUCH SLEEP IS TOO MUCH?’: ASK A DOCTOR

MCR can cause people to walk at slower speeds and experience memory issues – and it can occur before dementia develops.

The study, led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, included 445 participants averaging 76 years of age who did not have dementia. 

Participants were asked about memory issues and walked on treadmills to assess their walking speeds. This was repeated once a year for an average of three years.

The group also completed a sleep assessment to gauge sleeping problems, patterns and medications.

TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP, DO THIS ACTIVITY BEFORE BED, EXPERTS SUGGEST

The researchers also tracked how often people had trouble staying awake while driving, eating or being social, as well as their issues maintaining enthusiasm for daily tasks.

At the start, 42 people had MCR, while another 36 developed the condition during the study.

After adjusting for factors like age, depression and other health conditions, researchers found that people with a lack of enthusiasm and daytime sleepiness were more than three times as likely to develop MCR.

MCR can cause people to walk at slow speeds and have memory issues. It can occur before dementia develops. (iStock)

“Our findings suggest that sleep issues affecting daytime wakefulness are most strongly associated with later cognitive risk,”  study author Victoire Leroy, MD, PhD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told Fox News Digital.

“This supports the hypothesis that sleep-related problems, particularly daytime sleepiness, are connected to cognitive impairment in older adults.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“More research needs to be done to look at the relationship between sleep issues and cognitive decline and the role played by motoric cognitive risk syndrome,” Leroy added.

The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted. 

It did not prove that sleep-related issues cause MCR, but only showed an association. Participants also self-reported their own sleep information, which left some room for bias.

Sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR even after adjusting for depression. (iStock)

“These results should be interpreted with caution due to several limitations in the study, and the association is not shown to be causal,” Leroy told Fox News Digital. 

“Further research is needed to validate this relationship and its underlying mechanisms.”

Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, commented on the study in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

“Our findings suggest that sleep issues affecting daytime wakefulness are most strongly associated with later cognitive risk.”

As sleep problems and depression are “highly related,” it’s “important to disentangle whether their sleep problems uniquely contribute to MCR, over and above the effects of depression,” said Troxel, who was not involved in the study.

“Results showed that people with poor sleep quality had a higher chance of developing MCR, but this link was no longer significant when accounting for depression,” she added.

One study limitation is that participants self-reported their own sleep information, the researchers added. (iStock)

Sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR even after adjusting for depression, according to Troxel.

“These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that promoting sleep health may be an important strategy to reduce the risk of dementia and emphasize the need for better screening and diagnosis for sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea,” she said. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

These disorders are “prevalent and treatable” in both men and women, Troxel noted, but they remain “under-diagnosed and under-treated.”

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging.

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.

Use escape to exit the menu.

Ivanka Trump, the second child of President-Elect Donald Trump, shared life lessons she’s learned over the years to commemorate her recent birthday. 

On October 30, Ivanka Trump turned 43 years old. She took to X a few days later to share tips and insights she’s learned and come to cherish throughout the years. 

The first lesson she shared was simple: “Family and friends are everything.”

IVANKA TRUMP SHARES THE FITNESS ROUTINE THAT HAS ‘TRANSFORMED’ HER BODY: ‘SAFE AND STEADY’

She went on to encourage others to nourish and nurture their relationships with the people they care about.

She wrote, “Check in on them, and let people know you care, even across distances.”

The second lesson was to simply forgive people. 

She said doing so “frees you more than anyone else.”

FLORIDA RABBI REVEALS THE 25 THINGS HE’S LEARNED IN LIFE: ‘HONOR YOUR OWN VALUES’

She went on to remind others that “everyone was sent to teach you something” — and encouraged people to avoid gossip while choosing their words wisely. 

“Everyone was sent to teach you something.”

“Trust yourself. Identify your core values and live in alignment with them; this may mean setting firm boundaries for yourself and with others,” she wrote.

Usha Vance, Vice President-Elect Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner look on as President-Elect Donald Trump speaks during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On a health and wellness note, Trump emphasized the importance of nourishing your body by “eating whole, locally grown, nutritious foods” that can “fuel your energy and spirit.”

She recommended getting “sunshine daily,” saying that “it makes the rest of your day — and night — better.”

10 TIPS TO LIVE TO BE 100: ‘FAR MORE THAN WISHFUL THINKING,’ SAY LONGEVITY EXPERTS

She also shared the tip of bringing awareness “to your hidden patterns, or they’ll quietly script your life story as if it were destiny.”

Trump mentioned forgiving people, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting “sunshine daily.” (James Devaney/GC Images)

Trump also said one of her life lessons is to “move your body daily” — whether that’s through lifting weights, playing sports or embracing a sense of play. 

OHIO FAMILY LEADER SHARES 11 LIFE LESSONS SHE WANTS HER ‘BELOVED 11 GRANDCHILDREN’ TO KNOW

“Strive for three daily wins: a physical win, a mental win and a spiritual win,” she wrote. 

Trump also said it’s important to “guard your peace” while cultivating self-mastery by “focusing inward.”

Trump said, “Strive for three daily wins: a physical win, a mental win and a spiritual win.” (MEGA/GC Images)

Another life lesson she shared was: “Be open to the truth, wherever it leads. Listen, reflect, challenge and grow. Cultivate creativity and expansion in life and embrace new ideas, connections and art.”

She added, “Get curious. About your partner, your kids, your friends and the world around you.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Quoting Dolly Parton, Trump said it’s important to “approach people and life with love and positivity.”

Standing beside Vice President-Elect Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner applaud as President-Elect Donald Trump speaks during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Additionally, she stressed the importance of spending time on what truly matters, saying, “Every choice is a trade of your time and energy.”

Trump also said, “What you judge, you cannot understand. Instead, observe, study and learn.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

To conclude her life lessons, she also said, “Here’s to another year of growth, love, and meaningful moments!”