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Does Day Length Affect Cognitive Performance in Memory Clinic Patients?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Catherine Lacny ,
Andrew Kirk ,
Debra G. Morgan  and
Chandima Karunanayake
Catherine Lacny
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Andrew Kirk*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Debra G. Morgan
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Chandima Karunanayake
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
*
Division of Neurology, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0W8, Canada
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Abstract

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Objective:

To determine whether day length affects cognitive performance in rural and remote memory clinic patients.

Methods:

A rural and remote memory clinic in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan provided an opportunity to examine how cognitive performance on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) is influenced by day length. Saskatchewan is an ideal location to test this association as day length varies greatly both seasonally and geographically. Following an initial assessment by the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic (RRMC) team in Saskatoon, patient follow-up appointments were performed either in-person or via telehealth videoconference. At each follow-up appointment the clinic neurologist administered the MMSE. The relationship between day length and MMSE scores at the sixweek follow-up appointment was analyzed in 154 patients. The mean daily temperature was controlled for in the analysis. Bivariate correlate and linear regression analyses were conducted.

Results:

There was no significant association between MMSE scores and either minutes of day length or mean daily temperature.

Conclusion:

Day length does not appear to have significant effect on cognitive performance of rural and remote memory clinic patients.

Résumé:

Résumé:Objectif:

Le but de l’étude était de déterminer si la longueur du jour influence la performance cognitive chez des patients vivant en milieu rural ou éloigné.

Méthode:

Nous avons profité du contexte d’une clinique de la mémoire située à Saskatoon en Saskatchewan pour examiner si la longueur du jour influence la performance cognitive au Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). La Saskatchewan est un lieu idéal pour évaluer cette association étant donné que la longueur du jour varie énormément selon les saisons et la géographie. Les patients ont subi une évaluation initiale à Saskatoon par l’équipe d’une Clinique de la mémoire en milieu rural et éloigné. Le suivi était fait en personne ou par vidéoconférence en télésanté. Le neurologue de la clinique les évaluait au moyen du MMSE à chaque rendez-vous de suivi. Nous avons analysé la relation entre la longueur du jour et les scores au MMSE à l’examen de suivi 6 semaines après l’évaluation initiale chez 154 patients. Les données ont été soumises à des analyses de corrélation et de régression linéaire bivariées, tenant compte de la température moyenne quotidienne.

Résultats:

Nous n’avons pas observé d’association significative entre les scores au MMSE et la longueur du jour en minutes ou la température quotidienne moyenne.

Conclusion:

La longueur du jour ne semble par avoir un effet significatif sur la performance cognitive des patients d’une clinique de la mémoire située en milieu rural ou éloigné.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 38 , Issue 3 , May 2011 , pp. 461 - 464
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2011

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