None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Previous research has shown deep sleep may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease risk through the clearance of chemicals from the brain and body. The present research aims to test whether slow wave sleep is associated with chemical clearance by measuring how overnight levels change in blood, and comparing this to chemical levels in the brain assessed using a MR-PET scan. Participants completed 3 days of at-home monitoring of their sleep and wake habits, followed by an overnight stay in the laboratory. In the laboratory, participants' sleep was measured and regular blood samples were taken overnight without disturbing participants' sleep. An MR-PET scan was completed to assess how chemical levels in the brain impact clearance during deep sleep.
Interventions
We aim to investigate how overnight slow wave sleep dynamics relate to the clearance of toxins related to Alzheimer's disease in the blood in older adults with and without cortical amyloid pathology.
Older adults aged 60+ were recruited and underwent neuropsychological and health screening.
Participants then completed 5 nights of sleep monitoring in their homes using a wrist-worn actigraphy device and sleep diary. At the end of the monitoring period, they were admitted to the Monash Sleep an
We aim to investigate how overnight slow wave sleep dynamics relate to the clearance of toxins related to Alzheimer's disease in the blood in older adults with and without cortical amyloid pathology. Older adults aged 60+ were recruited and underwent neuropsychological and health screening. Participants then completed 5 nights of sleep monitoring in their homes using a wrist-worn actigraphy device and sleep diary. At the end of the monitoring period, they were admitted to the Monash Sleep and Circadian Medicine Laboratory in the evening. Participants were fitted with 20 channels of electroencephalography (EEG) for sleep monitoring, and had cannulas intravenously inserted in their forearm by a registered nurse. Participants were infused with a heparin saline infusion to maintain hydration and cannula patency. A total of 5000 units of heparin sodium per litre of saline was used across the night (a total of 2500 units). EEG was recorded overnight and blood samples were collected every 30min throughout. Participants were provided with an 8h sleep opportunity commencing at their habitual bedtime. Participants then attended the Monash Biomedical Imaging facility to undergo an MR-PET scan and were injected with 185± 10% MBq of Aß tracer [18F]-NAV4694 via intravenous cannula. Participants underwent a 30min scan after a 40min uptake time in order to assess brain amyloid burden. Centiloid values were calculated to quantify amyloid burden.
Sponsors
Monash University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Healthy older adults aged 60+ living in Melbourne, Australia.
Exclusion criteria
Participants must be healthy regular sleepers, fluent in English, and must not be taking any prescription medication related to sleep complaints, depression, epilepsy, asthma (B-blockers), psychotics, steroids or anything that can affect the CNS. Participants must be non-smokers, not current shift workers, and moderate caffeine and alcohol drinkers. Participants cannot have any current diagnosis of minor or major neurocognitive disorder, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, migraines, psychiatric disorders, or sleep disorders. Participants also cannot have any contraindications for heparin administration or PET-MR scans. As part of the study screening, participants will undergo an overnight assessment for undiagnosed sleep apnoea, a 12-lead ECG to ensure no undiagnosed cardiac abnormalities, and a full blood examination to ensure adequate haemoglobin for blood sample collection.
Outcome results
None listed