Sleep Improvement Via Environmental Smart Temperature Adjustments

Launched by HEBREW SENIORLIFE · Jan 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how adjusting bedroom temperature using smart technology can help improve sleep for older adults. Many people aged 65 and older struggle with getting good sleep, often without knowing the reasons why. Researchers believe that keeping the bedroom at the right temperature can make a big difference in sleep quality. To do this, participants will wear health trackers that monitor their sleep and help determine their ideal bedroom temperature. Smart thermostats will then automatically adjust the temperature to keep it comfortable for better sleep.

To join the study, participants need to be at least 65 years old, live in the greater Boston area, and have reliable internet access at home. They also need to be able to follow the study's instructions and speak and read English. Over a period of time, participants will be monitored at home to see how well the temperature adjustments work for them. This trial aims to understand how feasible this temperature control method is and whether it can really help improve sleep for older adults.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. At least 65 years old
• • 2. Willing to follow study protocols for the duration of the study
• • 3. Living in the greater Boston metropolitan area
• • 4. Access to stable internet connection within their home
• • 5. Stable medication
• • 6. Ability to speak and read English
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Exclusion Criteria have been selected to ensure safety and optimize compliance, while minimizing confounds due to overt disease or conditions that may significantly influence study outcomes. The following exclusion criteria will be used to determine eligibility through a phone interview followed by an in-person screening. The exclusion criteria apply to both phases.
• • 1. Stated plans to not live within current place of residence for the duration of the study
• • 2. Inability to properly use the wearable device or complete the daily questionnaire.
• • 3. Self-report of physician-diagnosed sleep apnea or other diagnosed sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome and chronic insomnia
• • 4. Inability to ambulate without the assistance of others
• • 5. Self- or proxy-report of physician-diagnosed dementia or overt neurological diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, stroke, or Multiple sclerosis
• • 6. Evidence of severe cognitive impairment defined as a Modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-m) score \< 25
• • 7. Self-report of physician-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• • 8. Lack of a thermostat-controlled heating and cooling system to adjust the bedroom temperature. The existing system must be compatible with the thermostat selected in this study (Ecobee)
• • 9. Self-report of any unstable psychiatric illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis.
• • 10. Self-report of unstable medical conditions (active cancer, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable heart disease, heart attack within the past 6 months)