Couples Health Aging, Rhythms and Sleep Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · Jul 11, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Couples Health Aging, Rhythms and Sleep Study is a clinical trial looking at how sleep affects couples when one partner has mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that can lead to memory loss and other challenges. The study aims to understand how sleep problems can impact both partners' health and well-being, as well as their risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This is the first study of its kind to explore how sleep behaviors are shared within couples, making it an important step in understanding how to support both partners.

To participate, couples need to be married or in a romantic relationship for at least two years, with one partner over 50 years old who has been identified as having mild cognitive impairment, while the other partner must not have any cognitive issues. Participants should be smartphone users, as the study may involve using technology to track sleep and health. Those with severe medical or mental health conditions, certain medication use, or those who work night shifts more than once a month won't be eligible. Participants can expect to engage in assessments related to their sleep and health, contributing to valuable research that could help improve care for couples facing these challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Married or partnered in a romantic relationship, cohabiting for at least two years
• • age \>50
• • smartphone user
• • one partner meets criteria for cognitive impairment without severe impairment in daytime dysfunction according to telephone screening, while other partner must not meet this criteria for impairment.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Unstable or severe medical or psychiatric conditions that would interfere with study participation (including but not limited to current cancer treatment, psychosis, history of major stroke, head injury with loss of consciousness \>30 min, other neurologic/systemic illness that may affect cognition, alcohol or other substance abuse)
• • current use of antipsychotic or anticonvulsant medications
• • inadequate vision, hearing, or dexterity to participate in the assessment
• • night shift work \>1x per month (defined as beginning work after 9:00 pm or work in the overnight hours \[12:00 am-5:00 am\])