O003 Napping-memory relationship varies as a function of AD genetic risk

Abstract Evidence links napping and cognitive abilities in the context of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), yet little is known about how genetic risk influences this relationship. This study investigated interactions between genetic risk for AD and daytime napping on the cognition of mid-to late life adults. Participants were 1655 non-clinical adults aged 42-75 from the Prospective Imaging Study of Ageing. Genetic risk was assessed with the presence of APOE ɛ4 alleles and polygenic risk scores (PRS). Cognition was assessed using the online battery Creyos then reduced to three variables of cognition (memory, visuospatial abilities, executive functions) and sleep (napping and overnight) via self-reported questionnaires. ANCOVAs, with age, sex, education and BMI, assessed interactions. When reporting long naps (≥1 hour), APOE ɛ4 carriers (M = 0.32, SE = 0.16) demonstrated better memory performance (p=.003) than non-carriers (M = -0,27, SE = 0.12). Among APOE ɛ4 carriers, long naps (M = 0.32, SE = 0.16) were associated with better memory (p=.048) than short naps (M = 0.09, SE = 0.05). Low PRS (M = 0.12, SD = 0.06) was related to better memory than high PRS (M = -0.13, SD = 0.68) among those who did not nap (p=.007). Within the low PRS group, participants who did not nap (M = 0.12, SD = 0.06) outperformed (p=.049) those reporting short naps on memory tasks (M = -0.18, SD = 0.10). Results remained significant after accounting for sleep efficiency. Findings suggest that the relationship between napping and memory varies as a function of genetic risk for AD. Findings do not support a one-size-fits-all approach to sleep advice in the dementia context and could inform studies investigating interventions modifying the sleep–wake cycle based on genetic profiles.