The Role of Impaired Neurobehavioral Alertness in Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
In 2023, the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort study group was awarded a 5-year grant from the National Institutes of Health. The Neurobehavioral Alertness in Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology Study is led by principal investigator, Dr. David Plante.
Research Focus
This study investigates how sleepiness and alertness are related to cognitive functioning, brain changes, and mental abilities such as memory, learning, and attention.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Past participants of Wisconsin Sleep Cohort studies who have completed a previous overnight sleep study and cognitive testing are eligible for this new study.
We welcome the participation of ALL eligible volunteers, including those who are experiencing age-related conditions or other health issues.
How to Participate
We are enrolling 450 volunteers from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort. If you would like to participate, be on the lookout for an invitation letter. We will contact you by mail and follow up with a phone call.
Recruitment and study visits began in August of 2023.
What’s involved?
There are two study visits as part of this protocol. For one visit, Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Staff conducts in-home study visits in 2-person teams (study technician and assistant). They will perform study procedures that will be familiar to our volunteers from past experiences in our sleep lab and in-home studies. For example, we will perform the tests of vigilance, cognition, and vision testing. As usual, there are questionnaires about your sleep, health, and health habits. This study does not include an overnight component.
During another study visit, a Wisconsin Sleep Cohort phlebotomist will come to participants’ homes and conduct a routine venous blood draw. The blood will be taken to UW Hospitals and Clinics, where it will be tested for biological markers related to the risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Study Elements include:
- Health questionnaires
- Memory testing
- Body Measurements: height, weight and girth
- Test of Vigilance and attention
- Vision test
- Blood draw
Procedures can be adapted for volunteers with special needs related to age-related,
health, or other conditions.