A randomized controlled trial to test a behavioral sleep intervention to improve insomnia symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: Multicomponent Behavioral Sleep Intervention (MBSI) protocol.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment represent a significant public health burden in terms of impaired quality of life, risks from untreated insomnia, and adverse effects from pharmaceutical insomnia treatment. To address current limitations in the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, we are conducting a randomized pilot study to test a brief (4- week), tablet-based, personalized, multicomponent behavioral sleep intervention (MBSI) for insomnia, compared to a sleep education control, in a sample of older adults with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control group. Both groups will complete three virtual study data collection visits: baseline, 4-week post-intervention, and 12-week post-intervention follow-up. Key components of the 4-week intervention include sleep hygiene education, stimulating meaningful activity during the day and promoting relaxation therapy at night. We will determine preliminary immediate (4-week) and sustained efficacy (12-week) of MBSI compared to sleep education on sleep related outcomes and health related quality of life. Additionally, we will explore mechanisms by which the intervention affects sleep and health related quality of life using standardized questionnaires and inflammatory biomarkers. RESULTS: (N/A). DISCUSSION: The findings of the proposed project will inform future, larger scale clinical trials and may provide a novel and innovative way for older adults with mild cognitive impairment to achieve better sleep and health-related quality of life outcomes.

Assisted Relaxation Therapy for Insomnia in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study.

Insomnia symptoms are prevalent in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and can pose treatment challenges. We tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of assisted relaxation therapy (ART) to improve insomnia symptoms in community-dwelling older adults with MCI. In this pilot RCT, 25 participants were assigned to intervention or control groups for 2 weeks. The final sample (n = 20) consisted of all Black, primarily female (70%) older adults (mean age 69.10; SD = 7.45) with mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores of 21.10 (SD = 2.49). Recruitment was timely; attrition was low (80%). Participants were able to use ART (average use 7.00; SD = 5.07 days). Participants in the ART group improved on Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (- 7.10; 95% CI [-11.63, -2.55]; p = .004) compared to baseline. There were clinically meaningful mean change scores on ISI for the intervention group compared to the control (- 7.10 vs. - 4.33). Results provide justification for testing ART in a fully powered clinical trial.

Religion, Spirituality, and Coping During the Pandemic: Perspectives of Dementia Caregivers.

Religious and spiritual (R/S) practices support individuals during difficult situations. The COVID-19 social distancing restrictions may have limited access to R/S practices for older adults with Alzheimer's disease related dementia (ADRD) and their caregivers, affecting coping and well-being. This qualitative study explored the impact of social distancing on R/S practices and coping in ADRD-caregiver dyads from the perspective of caregivers. Interviews were conducted with 11 family caregivers of older adults with ADRD residing in nursing homes (n = 4) or private homes (n = 7). Caregivers continued individual and started virtual R/S practices which improved their ability to cope. However, organized R/S practices were unavailable for those with ADRD, but they used prayer and read religious texts which noticeably improved their mood. Healthcare professionals' sharing of individual and community R/S resources available for ADRD-caregiver dyads could decrease anxiety and agitation, while improving their ability to cope with increased isolation.

"Please Don't Forget Us": A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The current descriptive qualitative study explored the perceived impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on sleep disturbances and nighttime agitation; the reported use of antipsychotics and other sedating medications; and the overall well-being of older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers. One investigator conducted in-depth, phone interviews with caregivers of nursing home residents with ADRD (four family caregivers [FCs], three nurse practitioners [NPs]) and seven FCs of older adults with ADRD who lived with them at home. Caregivers described multiple sleep disturbances. Nighttime agitation symptoms were perceived to continue or worsen, and sedating medications and nonpharmacological interventions were required. Adverse impacts on reported well-being were significant, and impacts were grouped into emotional, social, and physical themes. Caregivers said, "Please don't forget us," and requested telehealth support for those at home and technology and human resources for nursing homes to reduce adverse impacts. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(5), 217-228.].

Sleep in Normal Aging.

Sleep is a key determinant of healthy and cognitive aging. Sleep patterns change with aging, independent of other factors, and include advanced sleep timing, shortened nocturnal sleep duration, increased frequency of daytime naps, increased number of nocturnal awakenings and time spent awake during the night, and decreased slow-wave sleep. The sleep-related hormone secretion changes with aging. Most changes seem to occur between young and middle adulthood; sleep parameters remain largely unchanged among healthy older adults. The circadian system and sleep homeostatic mechanisms become less robust with normal aging. The causes of sleep disturbances in older adults are multifactorial.

Independent associations between sleep duration, gamma gap, and cognitive function among older adults: Results from the NHANES 2013-2014.

This study examined whether gamma gap mediated the association between sleep and cognitive function. Data from NHANES 2013-2014 were used. Three tests were used to measure cognitive function. Sleep was measured by three single questions. Gamma gap was calculated by subtracting albumin from total protein. Participants were 1392 older adults (53.2% females). Approximately 12% reported being told having sleep disorder, 1/3 reported having trouble sleeping, 25.9% had short sleep, and 12.5% had long sleep. Sleep disorders and sleep quality were not associated with cognitive function. Long sleep duration was an independent risk factor of reduced cognitive function on immediate recall, delayed recall, and executive function. Elevated gamma gap was also an independent risk factor of lower cognitive function. In a representative sample of older adults in the US, gamma gap and sleep duration were independent predictors of cognitive function. This study highlights the need for sleep assessment among older adults.

An mHealth-Facilitated Personalized Intervention for Physical Activity and Sleep in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

This randomized controlled pilot trial tested the preliminary effect of a 24-week mHealth-facilitated, personalized intervention on physical activity (PA) and sleep in 21 community-dwelling older adults. The intervention included a personalized exercise prescription, training, goal setting, and financial incentives. mHealth strategies, including self-monitoring, motivational messages, activity reminders, and phone coaching, were used to facilitate PA participation. PA and sleep were measured using actigraphy and questionnaires at baseline and 8-, 16-, and 24-week visits. Participants in the intervention group had lower objective PA levels at 24 weeks than at 8 and 16 weeks, although levels of PA remained higher than at baseline. Compared with the control group, the intervention increased PA at 8, 16, and 24 weeks; improved subjective sleep quality at 16 and 24 weeks; and increased actigraphy-measured sleep duration and sleep efficiency at 24 weeks. mHealth PA interventions may benefit PA and sleep in older adults. Strategies for maintaining long-term PA behavioral changes are needed.

Recruiting Persons with Dementia and Caregivers in a Clinical Trial: Dyads Perceptions.

Recruitment for dementia research is challenging and costly. Using Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior we explored attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control of persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers who participated in one clinical trial to better understand factors that influence dyads' decisions to enroll. We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 12 PLWD and 9 caregivers and utilized directed content analysis. Categories connected with positive attitudes about study enrollment were personal desires of wanting to learn and in-person meetings with knowledgeable staff. Additionally, participants said the money always helps in terms of the financial incentive. Participants reported enrolling to support another person (perceived norm). Study requirements were thought to be easy (perceived behavioral control). Participants highlighted the importance of flexible scheduling and study tasks being completed at their home. Findings can inform future recruitment efforts and should be investigated as effective recruitment methods in other clinical trials.

The natural history of insomnia: Does sleep extension differentiate between those that do and do not develop chronic insomnia?

According to the "3P model" of insomnia, the variable that mediates the transition from acute insomnia (AI) to chronic insomnia is "sleep extension" (the behavioural tendency to expand sleep opportunity to compensate for sleep loss). In the present analysis, we sought to evaluate how time in bed (TIB) varies relative to the new onset of AI and chronic insomnia. A total of 1,248 subjects were recruited as good sleepers (GS). Subjects were monitored over 1 year with sleep diaries. State transitions were defined, a priori, for AI, recovered from AI (AI-REC), and for chronic insomnia (AI-CI). Two additional groupings were added based on profiles that were unanticipated: subjects that exhibited persistent poor sleep following AI (AI-PPS [those that neither recovered or developed chronic insomnia]) and subjects that recovered from chronic insomnia (CI-REC). All the groups (GS, AI-REC, AI-CI, AI-PPS and CI-REC) were evaluated for TIB differences with longitudinal mixed effects models. Post hoc analyses for the percentage of the groups that were typed as TIB "restrictors, maintainers, and expanders" were conducted using longitudinal mixed effects models and contingency analyses. Significant differences for pre-post AI TIB were not detected for the insomnia groups. Trends were apparent for the AI-CI group, which suggested that minor increases in TIB occurred weeks before the declared onset of AI. Additionally, it was found that a significantly larger percentage of AI-CI subjects engaged in sleep extension (as compared to GS). The present data suggest that transition from AI to chronic insomnia does not appear to be initiated by sleep extension and the transition may occur before the elapse of 3 months of ≥3 nights of sleep continuity disturbance. Given these findings, it may be that the mismatch between sleep ability and sleep opportunity is perpetuated over time given the failure to "naturally" engage in sleep restriction (as opposed to sleep extension).

Primary care provider evaluation and management of insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the type and extent of information collected from patients with insomnia during their first office encounter for insomnia and the prescribing therapies of primary care providers during this initial encounter. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review of randomly selected patients who had a primary care provider office visit at any clinic affiliated with a university medical system between March 1, 2013, and March 1, 2016. Demographic and clinical information was abstracted for analysis. RESULTS: Our sample (n = 200) was primarily female (63.5%), White (69%), middle-aged (ages 44.6 ± 15.1 years) adults. Most (68.5%) encounter notes did not have significant information related to insomnia risk factors and symptoms (< 50% of the notes). When examining comorbidities, we found that younger patients (<45 years old) were more likely to have anxiety linked to insomnia (P = .025), whereas older patients (≥45) were less likely to have any identified comorbidities associated with insomnia (P = .009). Only 5.0% of patients with insomnia were referred for cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia, whereas 51.5% of patients were prescribed sleep medications. The younger cohort was statistically more likely to receive sleep hygiene or cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia as a treatment option in comparison to the older cohort (P = .01 and P = .04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Progress notes from primary care providers tend to have a paucity of information on insomnia symptoms and related comorbidities. Medications are often prescribed as the first-line treatment for insomnia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia remains underutilized despite robust evidence suggesting that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is a safe and effective treatment for insomnia.

Tailored music listening intervention to reduce sleep disturbances in older adults with dementia: Research protocol.

Sleep disruption in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is debilitating and contributes to increased institutionalization, reduced cognitive function, and accelerated disease progression. Furthermore, sleep disruption is linked to poor health outcomes in caregivers, such as decreased quality of life and increased caregiver burden. Given the potentially harmful side effects of pharmacologic treatment, nonpharmacologic approaches, such as music, may provide a safer alternative to reducing sleep disruption in this vulnerable population. A growing body of literature suggests that calming tailored music may improve sleep quality in older adults with memory loss, but its efficacy has not been demonstrated in older adults with ADRD in the community, where most older adults with ADRD live. If shown to be feasible and acceptable, tailored music interventions can then be tested for efficacy in reducing sleep disruption. This protocol details a wait-list randomized controlled trial (NCT04157244), the purpose of which is to test the feasibility, acceptability, and examine the preliminary efficacy of a tailored music listening intervention in older adults with ADRD who report sleep disruption. Music selections will be tailored to the music genre preferences of older adults with ADRD and account for known sleep-inducing properties. The feasibility of processes that is key to the success of the subsequent study will be examined. Preliminary efficacy of the intervention will be assessed using objective (actigraphy) and subjective (proxy-reported) sleep quality measures. In addition, qualitative data will be solicited, examining the acceptability and satisfaction with the intervention by individuals with ADRD.

Daytime sleepiness and napping in nursing-home eligible community dwelling older adults: A mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe perceptions and beliefs about daytime sleepiness and napping along with subjective and objective daytime sleep characteristics in nursing-home eligible community dwelling older adults. METHODS: A mixed methods study; we conducted semi-structured interviews and measured sleep variables via Actigraphy, sleep diary, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Napping was defined as >10 minutes; anything less was considered dozing. RESULTS: Final sample (n = 40) was primarily female (85%), Black (100%), with a mean age of 72 ± 9.5 years. Few (25%) reported daytime sleepiness (ESS >10). However, average duration of napping per day was 33.1 ± 11.5 minutes with a nap frequency of 2.5 ± 1.5 naps. CONCLUSION: Our sample napped frequently throughout the day, yet the majority reported no daytime sleepiness. These older adults did not always recognize napping or how much they napped.

Association between adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment and cost among medicare enrollees.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cost associated with sleep apnea and effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on costs among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS: Retrospective cohort design using 5% Medicare claims between 2006 and 2010. Medicare beneficiaries with and without sleep apnea diagnosis between 2007 and 2008 were identified and followed retrospectively for 2 years pre-index-date and 2 years post-index-date. We defined CPAP fill as at least one durable medical equipment claim for CPAP in 6-month period. At least three CPAP fills was defined as "full adherence," and one or two CPAP fills was "partial adherence." We used interrupted time series and generalized linear log-link models to study the association between sleep apnea, CPAP treatment, and costs. To minimize bias, we used propensity score and instrumental variables approach. RESULTS: Sleep apnea was associated with higher costs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.58, 1.63) compared to those without sleep apnea. Almost half of those with sleep apnea received CPAP treatment. Interrupted time series analysis indicated post level increase in mean monthly cost for full CPAP adherence group, partial CPAP adherence group and no-CPAP group. However, the increase was smallest for the full CPAP adherence group. Full CPAP adherence was associated with lower change in cost (OR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.88, 0.97) compared to the no-CPAP group. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare beneficiaries with sleep apnea experience increased cost. Full adherence to CPAP treatment for sleep apnea was associated with lower increase in cost. These findings emphasize the need to effectively identify and treat sleep apnea in Medicare patients.

A personalized behavioral intervention implementing mHealth technologies for older adults: A pilot feasibility study.

Sedentary behavior has been associated with adverse health outcomes such as disturbed sleep in older adults. We conducted a single-group pretest and posttest study to evaluate the feasibility of a personalized behavioral intervention program using mobile health technology in improving physical activity and sleep in older adults. The four-week intervention included: personalized physical activity training, real-time physical activity self-monitoring, interactive prompts and feedback with a smartwatch, phone consultation with an exercise trainer and research team members, and weekly financial incentives for achieving weekly physical activity goals. Eight cognitively intact older adults were recruited and completed the study. Findings suggested that the intervention was feasible in this sample of older adults and provided favorable changes in levels of physical activity during the intervention and at post-intervention. Future studies will include a fully powered trial to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention in sedentary older adults.

The Natural History of Insomnia: the incidence of acute insomnia and subsequent progression to chronic insomnia or recovery in good sleeper subjects.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence per annum of acute insomnia and to what extent those that develop acute insomnia recover good sleep or develop chronic insomnia. Unlike prior studies, a dense-sampling approach was used here (i.e. daily diaries) and this allowed for a more precise detection of acute insomnia and the follow-on states (the transitions to either recovery or chronic insomnia). METHODS: Good sleeper subjects (n = 1,248; 67% female) that were at least 35 years old participated in this prospective study on the natural history of insomnia. Subjects were recruited nationwide and completed online assessments for 1 year. The online measures consisted primarily of daily sleep diaries, as well as weekly/bi-weekly and monthly measures of sleep, stress, and psychological and physical health. RESULTS: The 1-year incidence rate of acute insomnia was 27.0% (n = 337). The incidence rate of chronic insomnia was 1.8% (n = 23). Of those that developed acute insomnia, 72.4% (n = 244) went on to recover good sleep. 19.3% (n = 65) of the acute insomnia sample continued to experience persistent poor sleep, but did not meet criteria for chronic insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of acute insomnia (3 or more nights a week for between 2 and 12 weeks) is remarkably high. This said, most incident cases resolve within a few days to weeks. Incident chronic insomnia only occurs in about 2 in 100 individuals.

Sleep debt at the community level: impact of age, sex, race/ethnicity and health.

OBJECTIVES: Insufficient sleep has become recognized as a pervasive problem in modern society. Sleep debt is a novel measure of sleep adequacy that may be useful in describing those at risk for inadequate sleep. Our objective was to investigate factors that may be associated with sleep debt at the population level, as well as build upon previous data that showed that minority groups may be more likely to have sleep debt. DESIGN: A cross-sectional population phone survey included questions regarding amount of sleep required and amount of sleep achieved. Sleep debt was calculated by subtracting sleep achieved from sleep required. SETTING: This study was designed by the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and conducted over landlines and cell phones. PARTICIPANTS: The Random Digit Dialing method was used to randomly choose 8,752 adults older than 18 years from several counties in and around Philadelphia to answer questions about sleep. MEASUREMENTS: Logistic regression was performed to test associations between sleep debt and various sociodemographic factors in different population subgroups to identify those at risk for sub-optimal sleep duration. RESULTS: Sleep debt was seen to decrease with age, a novel finding that is in contrast with literature suggesting that older adults have poor sleep. Greater sleep debt was also associated with female gender, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, <40 years of age, self-reported poor health, and increased stress. CONCLUSIONS: Although older adults may sleep less as they age, they may also require less sleep to feel rested, resulting in less sleep debt. This and other demographic factors, such as female gender and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, can be used to identify those at higher risk of inadequate sleep and potentially manage their sleep debt.

Quality of direct oral anticoagulant prescribing in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: results from a large urban health system.

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is common in older adults. Oral anticoagulation is indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism, but it also poses a risk of bleeding, particularly in the elderly. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) provide an alternative to warfarin and their use in the treatment of AF is growing. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the quality of DOAC prescribing in elderly patients with NVAF in a large academic health system and to compare practice with consensus best practice recommendations. We searched the electronic medical record for patients ≥ 65 years of age who were newly initiated on a DOAC for AF from January 2013 through December 2015. Patient and provider characteristics, baseline laboratory investigations, concomitant medications, and interval to first follow-up were recorded. 192 patients met eligibility criteria. The most commonly prescribed DOACs were rivaroxaban (65%) and apixaban (26%). Despite consensus recommendations that patients have a baseline creatinine, complete blood cell count, and coagulation studies prior to DOAC initiation, these tests were not performed in 18, 31, and 67% of patients, respectively. Consensus recommendations also suggest a follow-up visit within 1 month of DOAC initiation. However, only 39% of patients had a return visit within 6 weeks and 43% did not have follow-up within 12 weeks. DOAC prescribing in elderly patients with NVAF frequently fell short of quality standards. Interventions to enhance the quality of DOAC prescribing in this high-risk population are needed.

Lower plasma choline levels are associated with sleepiness symptoms.

Sleepiness and cardiovascular disease share common molecular pathways; thus, metabolic risk factors for sleepiness may also predict cardiovascular disease risk. Daytime sleepiness predicts mortality and cardiovascular disease, although the mechanism is unidentified. This study explored the associations between subjective sleepiness and metabolite concentrations in human blood plasma within the oxidative and inflammatory pathways, in order to identify mechanisms that may contribute to sleepiness and cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: An exploratory case-control sample of 36 subjects, categorized based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire as sleepy (ESS ≥ 10) or non-sleepy (ESS < 10), was recruited among subjects undergoing an overnight sleep study for suspected sleep apnea at the University of Pennsylvania Sleep Center. The average age was 42.4 ± 10.5 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 40.0 ± 9.36 kg/m2, median Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was 8.2 (IQR: 2.5-26.5), and 52% were male. Fasting morning blood plasma samples were collected after an overnight sleep study. Biomarkers were explored in subjects with sleepiness versus those without using the multiple linear regression adjusting for age, BMI, smoking, Apnea Hypopnea Index (sleep apnea severity), study cohort, and hypertension. RESULTS: The level of choline is significantly lower (P = 0.003) in sleepy subjects (N = 18; mean plasma choline concentration of 8.19 ± 2.62 µmol/L) compared with non-sleepy subjects (N = 18; mean plasma choline concentration of 9.14 ± 2.25 µmol/L). Other markers with suggestive differences (P < 0.1) include isovalerylcarnitine, Alpha-Amino apidipic acid, Spingosine 1 Phosphate, Aspartic Acid, Propionylcarnitine, and Ceramides (fatty acids; C14-C16 and C-18). CONCLUSION: This pilot study is the first to show that lower levels of plasma choline metabolites are associated with sleepiness. Further exploration of choline and other noted metabolites and their associations with sleepiness will guide targeted symptom management.

Sleep in Normal Aging.

Sleep patterns change with aging, independent of other factors, and include advanced sleep timing, shortened nocturnal sleep duration, increased frequency of daytime naps, increased number of nocturnal awakenings and time spent awake during the night, and decreased slow wave sleep. Most of these changes seem to occur between young and middle adulthood; sleep parameters remain largely unchanged among healthy older adults. The circadian system and sleep homeostatic mechanisms become less robust with normal aging. The amount and pattern of sleep-related hormone secretion change as well. The causes of sleep disturbances in older adults are multifactorial.

Intermediate, But Not Extended, Afternoon Naps May Preserve Cognition in Chinese Older Adults.

Background: The association between daytime napping and cognition is not well-studied in older adults. This study aimed to examine the associations between self-reported afternoon nap duration and change in cognition after 2-year follow-up in Chinese older adults. Methods: A total of 3,037 individuals aged 60 years and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study baseline and 2-year follow-up were included. Overall cognition was assessed by three interview-based sub-measures of orientation to time and attention, episodic memory, and visuospatial abilities. Change scores in cognition were calculated within subjects as follow-up minus baseline levels. Based on self-reported nap duration, older adults were grouped into: (i) Non-nappers (0 minutes); (ii) Short nappers (<30 minutes); (iii) Moderate nappers (30-90 minutes); and (iv) Extended nappers (>90 minutes) at baseline and follow-up. Results: Change in cognition was significantly associated with both baseline napping and changes in napping habits from baseline to follow-up, controlling for age, gender, education, body mass index, depression, mobility, instrumental activities of daily living, nocturnal sleep duration, and cognition at baseline. Extended nappers at baseline performed significantly worse with respect to change of overall cognition from baseline to follow-up than non-nappers, short nappers, and moderate nappers. People who napped less than 90 minutes at both assessments performed significantly better from baseline to follow-up compared to non- or extended nappers at both assessments. Conclusion: Results suggest that afternoon naps less than 90 minutes may be beneficial for cognition in older adults, while long afternoon naps may be detrimental.