Introduction Sleep deprivation is an escalating public health concern among young adults, as it impairs cognitive function and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Existing studies have linked chronic sleep deficiencies to mental confusion, reduced cognitive performance, and early signs of cognitive decline. Research also indicates that inadequate sleep contributes to metabolic dysregulation and autonomic system instability, both of which elevate cardiovascular risk. However, the overall effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function and cardiovascular markers in young adults require further exploration. This study aims to examine the relationship between sleep deprivation, brain fog, early cognitive decline, and cardiovascular risk factors in this population. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 300 participants aged 18-30 from Pakistan and various other countries. Participants were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using four validated instruments: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), applying chi-square tests, independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression to assess associations between sleep deprivation, cognitive performance, and cardiovascular outcomes. Results Participants with shorter sleep durations had significantly higher scores in cognitive failures (p < 0.01) and perceived stress (p < 0.01). Poor sleep quality was associated with reduced cognitive performance (r = -0.114, p < 0.05), and it also increased the likelihood of developing cardiovascular risk factors. Participants with a family history of CVD exhibited significantly higher cognitive failure scores (t = 5.540, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a decline in sleep quality was associated with increased cardiovascular risk (B = 0.035, p = 0.019), although sleep disorders were not significantly influenced by sleep quality deterioration (B = 0.012, p = 0.400). Employment status and smoking habits were also found to impact both sleep quality and cognitive function (p < 0.01). Conclusions This study highlights the adverse impact of insufficient sleep on cognitive function and cardiovascular health in young adults aged 18-30. Poor sleep quality is associated with increased cognitive errors, heightened stress levels, and a greater risk of cardiovascular issues. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted health interventions aimed at improving sleep hygiene and lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk of early cognitive decline and cardiovascular conditions. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and objective sleep tracking to strengthen causal inferences.

Keywords: brain fog; cardiovascular risk; cognitive impairment; sleep deprivation; young adults.

Copyright © 2025, Younas et al.

介绍 睡眠不足是年轻成人中日益严重的公共健康问题，因为它会损害认知功能并增加心血管疾病（CVD）的风险。现有研究表明，长期的睡眠缺乏与精神混乱、认知表现下降以及早期的认知衰退迹象有关。研究还表明，睡眠不足会导致代谢失调和自主神经系统不稳定，这两者都会提高心血管风险。然而，睡眠不足对年轻成人认知功能和心血管指标的整体影响仍需进一步探索。本研究旨在探讨睡眠不足与大脑迷雾、早期认知衰退及心血管风险因素之间的关系。方法 本横断面研究涉及来自巴基斯坦及其他国家的300名18至30岁的参与者。使用非概率目的抽样法选择参与者。数据收集采用四种经过验证的工具：匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index）、认知失误问卷（Cognitive Failures Questionnaire）、简易精神状态检查表（Mini-Mental State Examination）和感知压力量表（Perceived Stress Scale）。数据分析使用IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows，版本26.0（发布于2019年；美国纽约Armonk的IBM Corp.），应用卡方检验、独立样本t检验、ANOVA、皮尔逊相关以及逻辑回归来评估睡眠不足与认知表现和心血管结果之间的关联。结果 睡眠时间较短的参与者在认知失误（p < 0.01）及感知压力（p < 0.01）方面的得分显著较高。较差的睡眠质量与较低的认知表现有关（r = -0.114，p < 0.05），并且会增加心血管风险因素的发展可能性。有CVD家族史的参与者在认知失误评分方面表现出显著差异（t = 5.540，p < 0.001）。此外，睡眠质量下降与心血管风险升高相关（B = 0.035，p = 0.019），尽管睡眠障碍并未因睡眠质量的恶化而显著增加（B = 0.012，p = 0.400）。就业状况和吸烟习惯也发现会影响睡眠质量和认知功能（p < 0.01）。结论 本研究强调了在18至30岁年轻成人中，睡眠不足对认知功能及心血管健康产生的负面影响。较差的睡眠质量与增加的认知失误、提高的压力水平以及更大的心血管问题风险有关。这些发现在于改善睡眠卫生和生活方式行为以减少早期认知衰退和心血管疾病的风险方面突出了目标健康干预的重要性。未来的研究应采用纵向设计并使用客观的睡眠追踪方法来加强因果推论。

关键词：大脑迷雾；心血管风险；认知障碍；睡眠不足；年轻成人。