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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how sleep affects memory changes as people age. Researchers aim to determine if changes in sleep and memory both influence how well people remember things after sleeping. Participants will either take naps, have a full night's sleep, or stay awake for the same duration to compare results. This study suits healthy sleepers without diagnosed sleep or neurological disorders, irregular sleep schedules, or excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption. As an unphased study, participants can contribute to groundbreaking research on sleep and memory without the risks of drug trials.

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 prior data suggests that this sleep protocol is safe for participants?

Research shows that sleep, including naps and overnight rest, is generally safe for older adults. Studies have found that napping can improve attention, memory, and other cognitive skills. For instance, one study discovered that increased sleep through napping led to better mental performance.

While sleep problems like insomnia and sleep apnea are common in older adults, these issues do not directly affect the safety of sleep itself. It's important to note that poor sleep quality and very long naps might be linked to cognitive problems, but normal sleep patterns are not harmful.

Overall, evidence suggests that sleep is well-tolerated and can benefit brain function in older adults. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about exploring sleep as a treatment for sleep-dependent learning in aging because it taps into the brain's natural processes. Unlike traditional cognitive enhancers or memory aids that might rely on chemicals or supplements, sleep leverages the body's innate ability to consolidate and enhance learning through rest. This approach is non-invasive and free from the side effects often associated with pharmacological treatments. Additionally, by examining both napping and overnight sleep, researchers aim to identify the optimal sleep patterns that could enhance cognitive functions in older adults.

What evidence suggests that sleep is effective for memory changes in aging?

Research has shown that both napping and a good night's sleep can improve memory and thinking skills in older adults. In this trial, participants will either nap or have overnight sleep in the sleep condition, or stay awake for the same duration in the wake condition. Daytime naps can boost energy and reduce tiredness, enhancing focus and brain function. Studies also indicate that poor sleep quality can increase the risk of memory problems, while adequate sleep aids in forming memories. However, very long naps might not benefit older adults as much. Overall, getting enough sleep, whether through naps or a full night's rest, is crucial for maintaining strong memory and learning abilities with age. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9634571/

Benefits and risks of napping in older adults: A systematic ... Based on the findings of the present review, there is minimal evidence to indicate that napping is detrimental for older adults' nighttime sleep.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10562891/

Daytime Napping and Cognitive Health in Older Adults Daytime napping may improve cognitive performance by compensating for inadequate sleep at night, countering daytime sleepiness and fatigue, and boosting energy ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763424003981

A systematic and meta-analytic review of the impact ... Restricting sleep (3–6.5 hours) compared to normal sleep (7–11 hours) negatively affects memory formation with a small effect size.

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.963105/full

Association of sleep quality and nap duration with cognitive ... Poor sleep quality and long nap duration are significantly associated with high risk of cognitive frailty among the older adults in nursing homes.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S108707922200079X

Systematic review and meta-analyses on the effects of ... Nap benefits may be affected by several factors. For example, nap-related improvements in memory may be reduced with older age [8]. Other studies suggest that ...

6. ncoa.org ncoa.org/article/sleep-statistics-older-adults/

Sleep Facts and Statistics: What Older Adults Should Know A study involving women age 70+ showed that getting fewer than five hours of sleep increases the risk for falls and fractures.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4656195/

Sleep In Older Adults: Normative Changes, Sleep Disorders ... Sleep disorders are common in older adults: Approximately 5% of older adults meet criteria for clinically significant insomnia disorders and 20% for sleep apnea ...

8. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/5/zsae056/7616371

Is napping in older adults problematic or productive? The ... This large corpus of studies has repeatedly reported positive effects of napping, including greater vigilance, attention, memory, motor ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3074345/

Effects of a Month-Long Napping Regimen in Older ... In our study, the increase in total sleep time per 24 hours was associated with significant improvements in a number of cognitive performance measures ...