Influence of sitting behaviors on sleep disturbance and memory impairment in breast cancer survivors

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose was to prospectively examine the effects of sedentary behaviors on subjective memory impairment in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and the extent to which sleep disturbances mediated this pathway.MethodsBCS (N = 380; Mage = 57.38 ± 9.25 years) completed questionnaires assessing demographics, health history, sitting behaviors, sleep disturbance, subjective memory impairment, and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up. A subsample (N = 300) wore an accelerometer to objectively estimate sedentary time and MVPA. Structural equation modeling was used to test direct and indirect effects of self‐reported and objectively estimated sedentary behaviors on memory impairment (through sleep disturbance) across time. Models were adjusted for demographic, clinical, and MVPA covariates.ResultsAt baseline, more total daily sitting (γ = 0.23), occupational sitting (γ = 0.11), television viewing (γ = 0.15), and computer use (γ = 0.22) were associated with greater sleep disturbance, which was associated with greater memory impairment (γ = −0.22). Indirect effects of self‐reported sitting on memory were significant. At follow‐up, increased total daily sitting (γ = 0.08) and computer use (γ = 0.14) predicted increased sleep disturbance, which predicted increased memory impairment (γ = −0.09). The indirect path from increased computer use to memory impairment was significant (β = −0.01). In the accelerometer subsample, greater daily sedentary time at baseline was associated with less sleep disturbance (γ = −0.14) and memory impairment (indirect effect: β = 0.03).ConclusionsFindings provide early evidence that sedentary contexts may differentially influence sleep disturbance and memory impairment in BCS. Computer use and television viewing may pose the strongest risks to cognitive health. Disparate findings between objective and subjective sedentary measures warrant further research.

Physical activity and cognitive function: A comparison of rural and urban breast cancer survivors

“…This study was approved by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institutional Review Board. Details regarding recruitment and characteristics of the full sample have been previously published [ 26 , 34 , 35 ]. Briefly, eligible participants were women aged 21 years and older who were diagnosed with breast cancer at any stage and had access to an iPad with iOS 6.1 or later and the internet.…”

“…Consistent with previous studies [ 39 ], zip code approximation was used to match participants’ self-reported zip codes to the appropriate RUCA code and divide the cohort into urban residence (i.e., urban core and suburban) and rural residence (i.e., large rural, small/isolated rural). BCS included in the present study were significantly older at diagnosis (Mean difference = 4.25±1.17, p <0.01) and at time of data collection (Mean difference = 3.25±1.13, p <0.01) than BCS from the larger study not included in the present sample [ 34 ]. No other differences were observed between the present sample and the total sample.…”

“…Lower scores are indicative of more memory impairment. Additional details of the cognitive tasks and FOF have been previously reported [ 26 , 34 ].…”

The 24-Hour Movement Paradigm: An integrated approach to the measurement and promotion of daily activity in cancer clinical trials

“…To our knowledge, only a limited number of studies have examined the interaction of 24-hour movement behaviors in cancer survivors [ 22 , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] ]. For instance, Vallance et al [ 38 ] found that reallocating sleep, sedentary time, or light physical activity (LPA) to moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a group of non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors was associated with less fatigue but not better quality of life.…”

mHealth Interventions to Address Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

“…This includes, among others, using electronic devices while sitting, reclining or lying down; sitting at work; reading while lying down, and sitting during transportation. Although limited studies are examining SB and its association with health and wellbeing in cancer survivors, there is evidence that high levels of SB are linked to increased all-cause mortality, sleep disturbance, and depression symptoms in breast cancer survivors and mortality in colorectal cancer survivors [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”