Friday, April 19, 2024
4/19/2024
Project Summary / Abstract This proposed Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) will provide Hyun Kim, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University, with research training and career development that will help her become an independent and expert sleep scientist in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research. Poor or fragmented sleep increases the risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD) through accumulation of amyloid-ß, spread of tau, and accelerated microglial activation. While sleep's connection to brain and cognitive function is widely established, it is unclear whether modifying sleep in older adults could delay cognitive decline and slow the development of AD. Understanding the impact of sleep treatments on cognitive changes could enhance the current understanding of sleep disturbance as a modifiable risk factor and establish sleep interventions as a potential tool to reduce AD risks. The primary aim of the proposed research project is to examine neurocognitive performance outcomes of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and acoustic slow wave activity enhancement (SWAE). The mechanism of treatment-related neurocognitive changes will be investigated using the changes in objective and subjective sleep parameters. The secondary aim is to examine the impact of sleep treatments on cognitively-mediated everyday functioning. The exploratory aim is to assess whether CBTI and/or SWAE are associated with plasma AD biomarker, namely phosphorylated tau. These research aims will be complemented by career development plans involving (1) enhancing scientific knowledge in sleep and AD neurobiology; (2) developing skills in clinical trial methodology and relevant analytic skills; (3) fostering professional development and networking in sleep and AD scientific community. Collectively, the proposed study, in its research question, scope, and structure, is designed to serve as a road map for future R01 studies that investigate the intricate relationship between sleep and ADRD.
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