PLAS_in_aMCI
Improving sleep via phase-locked auditory stimulation in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)
Many older adults start to experience poorer sleep quality as they age, which can be associated with worse memory and cognition. Previous studies have shown that sleep can be improved when quiet sounds are presented at the right times during slow-wave sleep. We are interested in whether we can improve sleep and associated memory and cognitive function using these sounds in older adults.
Adults 60+ years old
Healthy volunteers
Volunteers with MCI
Who can participate in this study?
Participants over 60 years old with and without amnestic mild cognitive impairment, willing to follow the study protocol.
Participants will be excluded if they are unable to read, speak, or understand English. For both groups, we will exclude participants with (1) major psychiatric or neurological disorders, (2) moderate to severe depressive or anxiety symptoms, (3) sleep disorders, (4) serious medical illness, (5) known stroke or transient ischemic attack (6) alcohol or substance abuse, (7) a history of seizures, (8) chronic use of psychoactive or hypnotic medications, or use of any medication that alters sleep (9) significant hearing loss or hearing aid use, and (10) untreated moderate or severe sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index e 15 events/h) on a home sleep apnea test. Participants with well-controlled sleep apnea will be eligible to participate provided they are able to use their CPAP machine or other treatment device throughout the study.
What is involved?
Our study first involves a screening procedure that will be done at home using a smart device (e.g., computer, table). You will fill out an online questionnaire and tasks that will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete. If found eligible, we will call you to complete screening over the phone which may take an additional 30 minutes to complete. If it is unknown whether you have sleep apnea, we will provide you with an at-home sleep apnea test to complete for one night.
If found eligible, you will then be contacted for the in-person portion of this study. There will be a total of 15 overnight sessions, each approximately 11 hours, that will take place at your home.
During each session, you will complete a cerebral blood flow measure and a memory task in the morning and evening. While you sleep, we will record your brainwaves using electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique. In the morning, you will also complete a variety of short computerized cognitive tasks.
Principal Investigator & Posting Dates
Principal Investigator:Laura Batterink
Study posted on: August 5, 2025
Recruitment end date: September 1, 2027
Who can I contact to learn more about this study?
Sign Up for Western's Global Cognitive Neuroscience Registry
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