Schlaf und Kognition bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Abstract

Sleep and cognition in children and adolescents Abstract. In this review, one of the most important functions of sleep was described: Its role in promoting cognitive processes in children and adolescents. Particularly, studies of older children and adolescents revealed that sleep interacts in a complex manner with cognitive performance. Moreover, it was shown that sleep supports long-term memory even in young children. This is true for many different long-term memory systems such as memory of factual information (declarative memory), language acquisition, and for reward-related learning, but less so for learning motor skills. Clinical implications arise from observing the consequences of sleep deficits in children and adolescents due to early school hours or due to clinical conditions like attention deficits hyperactive disorder (ADHD), sleep apnea syndrome or other sleep disturbances. Current research has only partially shown that the treatment of sleep problems also benefits cognitive and memory performance. Filling this gap remains an opportunity for further research.

Mind and skin: Exploring the links between inflammation, sleep disturbance and neurocognitive function in patients with atopic dermatitis

“…Sufficient duration and quality of sleep have been shown to be important for the development of memory, language, sustained attention, processing speed and executive functions 60–62 . Shorter sleep duration in the first 3 years in healthy children is also associated with hyperactivity and lower cognitive performance on neurodevelopmental tests at age 6, demonstrating that inadequate sleep in early life can produce long‐standing effects on neurocognitive function 63 .…”

“…Sufficient duration and quality of sleep have been shown to be important for the development of memory, language, sustained attention, processing speed and executive functions. [60][61][62] Shorter sleep duration in the first 3 years in healthy children is also associated with hyperactivity and lower cognitive performance on neurodevelopmental tests at age 6, demonstrating that inadequate sleep in early life can produce long-standing effects on neurocognitive function. 63 A study in preterm babies, evaluating whether sleepwake state organization was related to developmental milestones in the first year after birth revealed that the stability and duration of sleep may be predictive of mental performance at 24 and 52 weeks of age.…”

Social, health-related, and environmental factors influencing sleep problems of children, adolescents and young adults

“…Sleep is a relevant factor for the healthy development of children and adolescents and, due to the regenerative processes associated with it, is central for health and well-being. Sufficient and undisturbed sleep is essential for cognitive functioning and performance [ 1–3 ] and is positively associated with academic performance in children and adolescents (for an overview, see [ 3–5 ]). Physical parameters, such as, for example, overweight/obesity and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g.…”

“…Information relating to the further social differentiation is not yet available for the KiGGS baseline study. International surveys support a social gradient for sleep problems, and children from socially disadvantaged families are also affected more strongly by the negative effects of a lack of sleep than children from socially advantaged families [ 3 , 25 ].…”