NCT04277104

Does Acoustic Stimulation During Sleep Boost Slow Wave Sleep and Memory Performance?

Improving Slow Wave Sleep by Auditory Stimulation to Enhance Memory Consolidation and New Learning in Healthy Older Adults and Older Individuals at Risk for Dementia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 47 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Bern · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

With aging the amount of slow wave sleep decreases drastically and this disruption is markedly exaggerated in older adults suffering from mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Critically, the disruption of slow wave sleep and cognitive decline seem bidirectionally linked forming a vicious cycle. In the long run, improving slow wave sleep might be a useful intervention tool to delay the onset of cognitive decline. The present study aims at improving slow wave sleep and memory functions through a closed-loop acoustic stimulation approach. A closed-loop algorithm is used that detects slow waves in the electroencephalogram and is programmed to present short tones (50 ms) in the rhythm of these waves. This procedure has shown to boost both slow wave sleep as well as memory performance, mainly in young adults and when applied for one night. Here, the investigators apply tones via multiple consecutive nights and assess memory performance during this 3-night intervention.

Conditions

• Healthy
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Alzheimer Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Closed loop acoustic stimulation	The intervention consists of three consecutive nights of closed loop acoustic stimulation during slow wave sleep. An established closed-loop algorithm is utilized that detects slow oscillations in the electroencephalogram and is programmed to present short tones (50 ms) into their up-states. Tones will be presented via a headband with integrated speakers. The procedure does not wake participants
OTHER	Sham acoustic stimulation	Sham acoustic stimulation: participants wear the headband but no stimuli are delivered during slow wave sleep. This ensures that in both the control and the intervention group the conscious experiences are the same.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-10-20
• Primary completion: 2023-07-20
• Completion: 2023-07-20
• First posted: 2020-02-20
• Last updated: 2023-12-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland