Evidence mapPaperPMID 40214959Full record

SynthesisGeroScience2025

Sleep disorders increase the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive decline: a meta-analysis.

Zoltan Ungvari, Mónika Fekete, Andrea Lehoczki, Gyöngyi Munkácsy, János Tibor Fekete, Virág Zábó, György Purebl, Péter Varga, Anna Ungvari, Balázs Győrffy

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in GeroScience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
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  8. NADAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026
    Review
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  12. Review
  13. Review
  14. [Surgical treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea].Lin chuang er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Journal of clinical otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery · 2026
    Review
  15. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Zoltan Ungvari *Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Mónika Fekete *Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Andrea Lehoczki *Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Gyöngyi MunkácsyDepartment of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary.
János Tibor FeketeDepartment of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary.
Virág ZábóInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
György PureblInstitute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Péter VargaInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Anna UngvariInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Ungann2004@gmail.com.ORCID 0009-0001-5053-2828
Balázs GyőrffyDepartment of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary.

Funding

Chemotherapy-induced vascular cognitive impairment: role of endothelial senescenceR01CA255840 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2022 to 2025
$982k
Radiation-induced astrocyte dysfunction and cognitive declineR01NS100782 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · PI ZOLTAN Istvan UNGVARI · 2021 to 2022
$686k
Cerebral microhemorrhages and gait abnormalities in agingR01AG055395 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$424k
The role of IGF-1 signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells in age-related vascular cognitive impairment and dementiaR01AG070915 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$350k
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA255840Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovaciós Alap RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00003Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovaciós Alap TKP2021-NKTA-47NIA NIH HHS R01 AG055395NIA NIH HHS R01 AG068295NIA NIH HHS R01 AG070915NIA NIH HHS RF1 AG072295NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS100782
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, are increasingly implicated as significant contributors to cognitive decline, dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). However, the extent and specificity of these associations remain uncertain. This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of common sleep disorders on the risk of developing dementia and cognitive decline. A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted to identify prospective cohort studies assessing sleep disorders and dementia risk. Studies reporting risk estimates for dementia, AD, or cognitive decline associated with obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and other sleep disorders (e.g., restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness) were included. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Thirty-nine cohort studies were included, with subgroup analyses showing significant associations between all-cause dementia and obstructive sleep apnea (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.09-1.61), insomnia (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.19-1.55), and other sleep disorders (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.24-1.43). Obstructive sleep apnea increased the risk for AD (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.24-1.69), though its association with vascular dementia did not reach statistical significance (HR 1.35, 95% CI 0.99-1.84). Insomnia was significantly associated with increased risk for both vascular dementia (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.01-2.51) and AD (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.27-1.74). This meta-analysis highlights the critical role of sleep disorders in dementia risk, emphasizing the need for early detection and management of sleep disturbances. Targeted interventions could play a pivotal role in reducing dementia risk, particularly among high-risk populations.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitive DysfunctionDementiaSleep Wake DisordersAgedHumansRisk FactorsSleep Apnea, ObstructiveAgingApnoeCircadian rhythmsCognitive declineInadequate sleepNeurodegenerationSemmelweis StudySleep deficitSleep-disordered breathingStroke

Identifiers

PMID40214959
PMCPMC12181552

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.