Are Grandma, Grandpa Sleepy During the Day? They May Be at Risk for Diabetes, Cancer, More

A study to be presented at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology's 72nd Annual Meeting suggests older adults who experience daytime sleepiness may be at risk of developing new medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure, reports ScienceDaily . The study involved 10,930 participants, of whom 34 percent were 65 or older. Those who reported sleepiness in the first of two phone interviews had a 2.3 times greater risk of developing diabetes or high blood pressure three years later than those who did not experience sleepiness — and twice as likely to develop cancer. Of the 840 people who reported sleepiness at the first interview, 6.2 percent developed diabetes compared to 2.9 percent of those who were never sleepy during the day. Some 2.4 percent developed cancer, versus 0.8 percent of those who were never sleepy during the day. Participants who reported daytime sleepiness during both interviews had a 2.5 times greater risk of developing heart disease. Those reporting sleepiness only in the second interview were half as likely to also have diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue than those who did not have daytime sleepiness.