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Objective:To investigate the status of sleep quality and cognitive functions of the elderly and explore effectiveness of self-relaxation training on sleep quality and cognitive functions of the elderly.Methods:This study was a field experimental research.203 old people in a community of Changsha City were sampled and measured by the Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the recite number, picture recalls, word association and comprehensive memory of Wechsler Memory Scale China revised edition (WMS-RC), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).100 old people were screened from 203 elderly and randomly assigned to the control group and relaxation group. The control group only received rout education on sleeping; based on the control group, the relaxation group received self-relaxation training including PMR and meditation relaxation.Three month and six month follow-up, all the participants’data were measured by above scales. A database was established using SPSS13.0, repeated measures analysis of variance was used for exploring the effectiveness of self-relaxation training on sleep quality and cognitive functions in the elderly.Results:(1) The baseline result revealed that the scores of PSQI and every dimensionality were significantly higher than domestic norm (P<0.05).The incidence of sleep disorder and the risk of excess daytime sleeping were 55.8% and 11.3%, respectively.(2) MMSE’s average score of the 203 old people was 25.12±3.575.There were 11.8% old people companying with cognitive impairment according to the criterion of different educational level. Of the memory sub-scales of WMS-RC, the score of recite numbers was the highest (9.82±1.975), that of word association was the lowest (2.34±1.463), picture recalls and comprehensive memory were 7.78±3.435 and 6.59±4.555, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and stepwise regressions showed that age and education were the main influential factors of cognitive functions.(3) Spearman correlation analysis indicated:PSQI, attention and calculation ability, language, and word association were related negatively (r=-0.155, P<0.05; r=-0.196, P<0.01; r=-0.174, P<0.05). ESS and attention and calculation were related negatively (r=-0.165, P< 0.05). MMSE and taking hypnotic drugs were related negatively (r=-0.152, P<0.05). Except above correlations, attention and calculation ability had negative correlation with sleep quality, sleep dysfunction (r=-0.197, P<0.01; r=-0.164, P< 0.05). Language had negative correlation with sleep dysfunction(r=0.155, P<0.05), time of falling asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, daytime function (r=-0.149, P<0.05; r=-0.181, P<0.01; r=-0.141, P<0.05; r=-0.169, P<0.05; r=-0.141, P< 0.05). There was a positive correlation between recite numbers and taking hypnotic drugs(r=0.160, P<0.05). Word association were correlated negatively with sleep quality, sleep time and sleep efficiency (r=-0.139, P <0.05; r=-0.174, P<0.05; r=-0.188, P<0.05).(4) Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the time main effects of PSQI, ESS, MMSE and the picture recalls, word association and comprehensive memory were siginificant(P<0.05).The intervention main effects of PSQI, MMSE and four memory sub-scales were siginificant(P<0.01).There were significant interactions between time and intervention factors on PSQI, ESS, MMSE and four memory sub-scales (P<0.01).Interactive plot indicated:after intervention, the relaxation group’s scores of sleep scales declined and were lower than those of the control group. The scores of MMSE and memory sub-scales increased and were higher than those of the control group. Relaxation group’s sleep quality and cognitive functions were improved.Conclusion:(1) The sleep condition of the old people was poor, the prevalence of sleep-disorder and the risk of excess daytime sleeping were 55.8% and 11.3%, respectively.(2) The cognitive functions of the elderly were normal on the whole, but there were 11.8% old people companying with cognitive impairment according to the criterion of different educational level. Age and education were the main influential factors of cognitive functions.(3) There was a positive correlation between sleep quality and cognitive function. (4) Self-relaxation training could improve effectively sleep quality and cognitive functions of the elderly.
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