Lifestyle interventions to increase exercise and improve diet have been the focus of recent clinical trials to potentially prevent Alzheimer's disease. However, despite the strong links between sleep disruptions, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease, sleep enhancement has yet to be targeted as a lifestyle intervention to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 15% of Alzheimer's disease may be attributed to sleep disruptions. Individuals with insomnia are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and demonstrate decline in cognitive function at long-term follow-up. An intervention aimed at improving insomnia is a critical opportunity for primary prevention to slow cognitive decline and potentially delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an efficacious treatment for insomnia, but the use of CBT-I to improve cognitive function and potentially reduce the rate of A? accumulation has never been examined. Therefore, the long-term goal of this research agenda is to understand how addressing sleep disturbances may delay the onset of AD. The objective of the proposed study is to compare the efficacy of CBT-I on improving cognitive function older adults with symptoms of insomnia.
The aims of the study are to examine the efficacy of CBT-I on improving cognitive function in older adults with symptoms of insomnia (Aim 1), determine the association between change in sleep measures and change in cognitive function (Aim 2), and examine the efficacy of CBT-I on reducing the rate of A? deposition in older adults with symptoms of insomnia (exploratory aim). This study is directly in line with PAR-18-175 to assess ?sleep enhancement? as a ?non-pharmacological intervention? to address ?age-related cognitive decline? in older adults who are ?pre-symptomatic.? Two hundred (n=200) cognitively normal (CDR = 0) individuals age 60-85 with symptoms of insomnia will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to a 6-week one-on-one cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) intervention or to an active control condition. Participants will undergo a sophisticated battery of cognitive tests and polysomnography to assess sleep quality and sleep characteristics at baseline and reassessment immediately following the intervention and at a 1 year. A subgroup of individuals (n=50) will undergo Florbetapir PET imaging to examine the efficacy of CBT-I on reducing the rate of A? deposition at baseline and at the 1 year reassessment. Effective interventions that could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease are critically needed. This research is significant because approximately 15% of AD may be prevented by an efficacious intervention aimed to reduce sleep disturbances and sleep disorders. This proposed study is innovative because no prior studies have targeted sleep disturbances as a possible opportunity to impact the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Individuals with insomnia are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and demonstrate decline in cognitive function at long-term follow-up. An intervention aimed at improving insomnia is a critical opportunity for primary prevention to slow cognitive decline and potentially delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the objective of the proposed study is to compare the efficacy of CBT-I on improving cognitive function older adults with symptoms of insomnia and examine the efficacy of CBT-I on reducing the rate of A? deposition in older adults with symptoms of insomnia.
