CPAP Randomized Controlled Trial
Treating Sleep Apnea to Improve Cognitive Function, Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, and Astrocyte Activation in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: A Multi-Centre Randomized Controlled Trial
2 other identifiers
interventional
206
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The overall goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test the hypothesis that in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and previously untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 4 months of web-based sleep education and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) will improve cognitive function more than web-based sleep education alone. Secondarily, this trial will test the hypothesis that 8 months of CPAP will improve cognitive function more than 4 months of CPAP. Moreover, treating OSA with CPAP can improve cognitive function and reduce Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes in older adults with MCI. This study will compare an Early CPAP Group who will receive CPAP and sleep education simultaneously for 8 months upon enrollment to a Later CPAP Group who will first receive sleep education for 4 months followed by CPAP and sleep education for the next 4 months to test if early treatment is more beneficial. Participants will:
- 1.Complete web-based sleep education modules through the Brain Health Pro (BHP) platform
- 2.Undergo CPAP therapy, including in-person mask fitting and regular monitoring alongside a study sleep technologist
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Feb 2025
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
January 8, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 14, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
February 1, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
September 1, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
January 1, 2028
January 14, 2025
December 1, 2024
2.6 years
January 8, 2025
January 8, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)
The SDMT is a test of speeded executive function that is predictive of clinically significant improvement in patients with MCI with a well-defined minimal clinically significant change and that is responsive to CPAP in observational studies. Additional cognitive measures that supplement the primary outcome of this study will be: attention and executive function (Trail Making Test A \& B), working memory (Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing), verbal learning and memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test), and severity of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale; ADAS-Cog-13).
From Week 0 to Week 32
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Vascular Risk Factors and AD-biomarkers
From Week 0 to Week 32
MRI
From Week 0 to Week 16
Study Arms (2)
Group 1 (Early CPAP group)
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will receive a study-provided CPAP device at their baseline visit, with settings set by one of the study sleep medicine physicians according to current clinical practice parameters. Participant will undergo an in-person mask fitting and then will be supported by a study sleep technologist with extensive clinical experience with CPAP who will contact the participant by telephone or video call at set intervals. Masks, tubing, chin straps, and other equipment necessary to optimize CPAP adherence will be provided by the study. Adherence will be monitored through downloads from the CPAP device. Participant will be asked to use CPAP nightly during their participation in this study. Participant will simultaneously participate in web-based sleep education through the Brain Health Pro (BHP) platform; a formal educational program designed to increase dementia literacy, foster engagement, and convey best available evidence for lifestyle changes that can mitigate dementia risk.
Group 2 (Later CPAP group)
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipant will receive the web-based sleep educational intervention first for 4 months. Participant will then receive a study-supplied CPAP device with settings set by one of the study sleep medicine physicians according to current clinical practice parameters. Participant will undergo an in-person mask fitting and will be supported by a study sleep technologist with extensive clinical experience with CPAP who will contact the participant by telephone or video call at set intervals. Equipment necessary to optimize CPAP adherence will be provided. Adherence will be monitored through downloads from the CPAP device. Participant will be asked to use CPAP nightly throughout their participation. Participant will simultaneously participate in web-based sleep education through the Brain Health Pro platform; a formal educational program designed to increase dementia literacy, foster engagement and convey best available evidence for lifestyle changes that can mitigate dementia risk.
Interventions
Participants in Group 1 will receive CPAP therapy immediately upon enrollment alongside web-based sleep education through the Brain Health Pro (BHP) platform. The CPAP intervention includes a study-provided auto-titrating device, in-person mask fitting, and ongoing support from a study sleep technologist. Adherence will be monitored via remote data uploads. The BHP platform is a 45-week web-based formal educational program program designed to increase dementia literacy, foster engagement, and convey best available evidence for lifestyle changes that can mitigate dementia risk. This combined approach ensures simultaneous initiation of CPAP and educational reinforcement to optimize adherence and cognitive outcomes.
Participants in Group 2 will begin with 4 months of BHP web-based sleep education before adding CPAP therapy for the remaining 4 months. CPAP setup and support are identical to the Early CPAP group. Participants in Group 2 will experience procedure similar to current clinical practices.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Informed consent obtained and signed
- Age \>55
- MCI: Participants will undergo a video-based screening, including a clinical interview, Logical Memory II, MoCA, and Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale Score. A participant will be considered to have MCI if they have: 1) MoCA score of 13-24 and Logical Memory II Score ≤ 8 (\&=16 years of education), ≤ 4 (8-15 years of education) or ≤ 2 (0-7 years of education) and Lawton-Brody IADL Score \>14/23 and do not meet DSM IV criteria for dementia and have a change in self-perceived cognition from previous
- Moderate-severe OSA: Participants who screen positive for MCI will be mailed an at-home sleep apnea testing device. Participants with ODI≥5 will undergo in-lab polysomnography (PSG) for confirmation and characterization of sleep apnea. A participant will be considered to have moderate-severe OSA if they have on PSG: AHI\>15, and ODI\>10, and central apneas\<10% of all apneas, and periodic limb movement index \<15.
You may not qualify if:
- drowsiness-related driving accidents or near misses in the past 12 months
- drives as their primary occupation
- unable to complete cognitive evaluation in English
- unable to participate in video-based cognitive assessment
- not a resident of Ontario
- contraindications to MRI
- contraindications to CPAP or unwilling to start CPAP
- no available study partner to support CPAP
- previously treated for sleep apnea
- clinically significant insomnia (ISI \> 15), restless legs syndrome, or shift work
- taking disease modifying agents for MCI
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centrelead
- Baycrestcollaborator
- University Health Network, Torontocollaborator
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Healthcollaborator
Study Sites (1)
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
Related Publications (26)
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PMID: 21828324BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
January 8, 2025
First Posted
January 14, 2025
Study Start
February 1, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
September 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
January 1, 2028
Last Updated
January 14, 2025
Record last verified: 2024-12
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share