Sleep-Dependent Learning in Aging

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Must not be taking: Psychotropic, Sleep-altering, Recreational, others

Disqualifiers: Sleep disorders, Neurological illness, Depression, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

584 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The specific objective of this proposed research is to understand whether deficits in sleep-dependent memory changes reflect age-related changes in sleep, memory, or both. The central hypothesis is that changes in both memory and sleep contribute to age-related changes in sleep-dependent memory processing. To this end, the investigators will investigate changes in learning following intervals of sleep (overnight and nap) and wake in young and older adults.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking any psychotropic, recreational drugs, or sleep-altering medications, including sleep medications, cold medicines within the past week, clonidine, and sympathomimetic stimulants.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Sleep for learning in aging?

Research suggests that while older adults may not experience the same sleep-dependent memory improvements as younger adults, improving sleep through behavioral or pharmacological treatments might still enhance cognition and performance in older adults. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is sleep generally safe for humans, especially in older adults?

Sleep is generally safe for humans, including older adults, but changes in sleep patterns and quality are common as people age. These changes can lead to issues like insomnia, which is often linked to other health conditions. While sleep deprivation can temporarily affect brain function, these effects are reversible with recovery sleep. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does the treatment of sleep differ from other treatments for age-related cognitive decline?

The treatment of sleep is unique because it focuses on enhancing cognitive function by improving sleep quality, which naturally declines with age. Unlike other treatments that might use medications or supplements, this approach leverages the body's natural sleep processes to support memory consolidation and cognitive performance. ^{1 10 11 12 13}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults aged 18-75 who sleep well and have no diagnosed sleep or neurodegenerative disorders. They must not work shifts, be pregnant or recently post-partum, have a history of mental health issues, head injuries, heavy alcohol use, abnormal sleep patterns like recent jet lag, or take drugs affecting sleep.

Inclusion Criteria

You have no trouble sleeping and have a normal sleep pattern.

I am between 18 and 75 years old.

I do not have any sleep or brain degeneration disorders.

Exclusion Criteria

You have experienced disrupted sleep patterns, like working night shifts or traveling across multiple time zones in the last 3 months.

Score indicative of cognitive dysfunction (subtest scores < 40)

You sleep less than 5 hours or more than 9 hours on average every night.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Sleep and Wake Intervals

Participants undergo sleep (nap or overnight) or stay awake for memory testing

2 hours or 12 hours

Multiple sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in memory accuracy after sleep or wake intervals

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Sleep

Trial Overview The study aims to understand how aging affects learning after sleeping. It will compare memory changes in young and older adults following periods of overnight sleep and daytime naps versus wakefulness.

Participant Groups

Group I: Sleep Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Individuals will either nap (Exps 1, 4) or have overnight sleep (Exps 2, 3, 5, 6)

Group II: Wake Active Control 1 Intervention

Individuals will stay awake for the same amount of time as they slept in the sleep condition

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Lead Sponsor

Trials

83

Recruited

3,474,000+

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Age-related changes in the cognitive function of sleep. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep optimizes motor skill in older adults. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Age-related decline of sleep-dependent consolidation. [2015]

4. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nap it or leave it in the elderly: A nap after practice relaxes age-related limitations in procedural memory consolidation. [2015]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motor Performance Is not Enhanced by Daytime Naps in Older Adults. [2020]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep in Normal Aging. [2023]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep and its disorders in aging populations. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Total Sleep Deprivation Increases Brain Age Prediction Reversibly in Multisite Samples of Young Healthy Adults. [2023]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep in Normal Aging, Homeostatic and Circadian Regulation and Vulnerability to Sleep Deprivation. [2023]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Memory quality modulates the effect of aging on memory consolidation during sleep: Reduced maintenance but intact gain. [2021]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Insufficient chunk concatenation may underlie changes in sleep-dependent consolidation of motor sequence learning in older adults. [2018]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Encoding and consolidation of motor sequence learning in young and older adults. [2022]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of aging on slow-wave sleep dynamics and human spatial navigational memory consolidation. [2018]