Sleep, Ageing, and Memory Study (SAMS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sleep, Cognition, Rest-Activity Rhythms and Light Exposure in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Healthy Ageing.
IRAS ID
327301
Contact name
Simon Kyle
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Sleep disturbances are a common and troubling symptom of dementia, occurring even in the pre-dementia stage of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Understanding sleep in MCI is important for developing new interventions to improve outcomes. Studies show many features of sleep are impaired in MCI compared to healthy ageing (HA). This includes less efficient sleep, waking up more, and taking longer to fall asleep. This disruption is associated with poorer memory ability and brain structure in MCI. However, research assessing sleep in participant’s homes is required. The impact of sleep on memory and thinking abilities in MCI is unclear and needs further assessment, alongside specific activity of the brain during sleep that are involved in storing memory. Furthermore, changes in our natural 24-hour rest-activity rhythms are found in MCI, and it is unknown whether these are related to changes in light exposure.
The proposed study will compare sleep, cognition, circadian rest-activity rhythms, and light exposure between MCI and HA. Participants will be aged 55 and over and will be screened for dementia and sleep disorders before taking part. Participants will have one visit to a university testing site for screening, cognitive testing, and questionnaires; there will be an option to do this at their homes if preferred. There will then be two home visits for sleep monitoring, one for screening and one for testing, alongside computer tests. Participants will also be asked to wear an activity monitor and complete a sleep diary for two weeks. This study will be the largest and most in-depth study to assess sleep in MCI and ageing within people’s own homes. The results will provide much needed understanding into the early stages of cognitive decline, aid development of strategies to prevent dementia, and support people experiencing cognitive changes.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0051
Date of REC Opinion
9 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion