The Effects of Successful OSA Treatment on Memory and AD Biomarkers in Older Adults (ESSENTIAL) Study

California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute

Summary

The Effects of Successful OSA TreatmENT on Memory and AD BIomarkers in Older AduLts (ESSENTIAL) study is a 5-year, multicenter randomized open-label trial that will screen 400 cognitively normal older adults recruited from well-established sleep clinics at 4 academic medical centers, with newly diagnosed moderate-severe OSA. An expected 200 OSA patients will be then randomized to one of two groups: i) a 3-month OSA treatment by any combination of PAP, OAT, and positional therapy that results in an "effective" AHI4%\< 10/hour and AHI3A\<20/hour (see below); ii) a waitlist control group to receive treatment at the conclusion of the 3-month intervention period. Both groups will continue follow-up for 24 months on stable therapy to determine if sustained improvements in sleep are associated with improvement in cognitive function and AD biomarkers.

Description

The prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD) is high and projected to increase. While there are multiple risk factors for AD, epidemiological data suggests that \~15% of AD risk may be attributed to sleep problems. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common among the elderly (30-55%), and the investigators have shown that cognitively normal older women with OSA have nearly double the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia over 5 years. Further, the investigators have shown that in normal elderly, OSA predicts longitudinal increases in AD biomarkers. Our preliminary data also s…

Eligibility

Age range: 55–85 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: No

Detailed criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Cognitively normal (TiCS ≥29) * Age 55-85 years * Moderate - severe OSA defined as AHI4 ≥20 events/hour or AHI3A\>40/hr using a hypopnea criterion of a 4% oxygen desaturation (AHI4) or 3% oxygen desaturation and/or EEG arousal (AHI3A), or equivalent based on in-home testing - Testing must have been completed in past 12 months or confirmed by repeat test (EHR) * Not currently on therapy for OSA and has not received treatment for OSA for at least 6months * Able and willing to be treated for OSA (Treatment group) * Fluency in English or Spanish Exclusion Criteria: * Docum…

Interventions

Device
Positive airway pressure
Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is a sleep apnea treatment that uses a stream of compressed air to support the airway during sleep. With PAP therapy, a mask is worn during sleep and a portable machine gently blows pressurized room air from into your upper airway through a tube connected to the mask. This positive airflow helps keep the airway open, preventing the collapse that occurs during apnea, thus allowing normal breathing.
Device
Oral appliance therapy
Oral appliance therapy involves the use of a dental appliance or oral mandibular advancement device that prevents the tongue from blocking the throat and/or advances the lower jaw forward. These devices help keep the airway open during sleep.
Device
Positional therapy
A NightShift Sleep Positioner (Advanced Brain Monitoring) is a neck vibration device, FDA approved to treat positional sleep apnea. The device detects patient supine position and delivers a small vibratory signal to the back of the neck to prompt position change.

Locations (4)

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
New York University
New York, New York
Mount Sinai
New York, New York
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania