Scripps Research Launches REFRESH-NOW Study on Sleep adn Cognitive Decline in Women
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- Scripps Research Launches REFRESH-NOW Study on Sleep adn Cognitive Decline in Women
California, July 16 – Scripps Research has launched the Research Framework for Sleep Health – Neurocognitive Outcomes in Women Study, known as REFRESH-NOW, in a significant effort to explore the connection between sleep and cognitive well-being. The study focuses on women aged 55 and older, utilizing wearable technology to collect extensive sleep data over a three-year period. This research is particularly crucial given that Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects twice as many women as men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Addressing the Sleep-Cognition Connection
The REFRESH-NOW study aims to investigate the impact of sleep duration and sleep irregularity on neurocognition in women. Historically, sleep disturbances in dementia patients were considered a result of the disease. However, growing evidence suggests that sleep disorders may play a causative role in the advancement of dementia. This shift in understanding highlights the importance of addressing sleep-related factors to potentially mitigate cognitive decline.
REFRESH-NOW: A Deep Dive into Sleep Patterns
led by Stuti Jaiswal, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist specializing in sleep research, REFRESH-NOW will use wrist-worn activity trackers and smartwatches to collect longitudinal sleep data over a three-year period. This approach allows researchers to gather real-world data from participants in their natural sleep environments, providing a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of their sleep patterns.
Dr. Jaiswal emphasizes the transformative potential of wearable technology in sleep research:
Wearables have the potential to revolutionize sleep research. While polysomnography is generally regarded as the gold standard for gathering sleep measurements, it only provides a snapshot of a person’s sleep characteristics based on data collected during a night spent in a sleep laboratory.
she further explains the limitations of traditional sleep studies and the advantages of using wearable devices:
That tool requires a person be hooked up to many different wires and sensors in a sleep laboratory, which is not a person’s natural sleep environment. Conversely, commercially available activity trackers collect data passively making it very simple for people to participate in sleep research from the comfort of their own home and to share real-world data with researchers over months or even years.
Comprehensive Data Collection and Cognitive Assessment
Along with data gathered from activity trackers, the study will collect data related to sleep habits, sleep apnea risk, and decision-making through surveys administered via a smartphone application.Participants will also be invited to participate in at-home cognitive battery assessments at multiple intervals. These assessments are designed to provide the study team with a better understanding of the participant’s cognitive state and function over time.
Hope for future Interventions
By identifying sleep-related risk factors for cognitive decline,the researchers hope to pave the way for the advancement of targeted interventions aimed at improving cognitive outcomes in women. The REFRESH-NOW study represents a crucial step forward in understanding the complex interplay between sleep and cognitive health, with the potential to substantially impact the lives of women at risk for dementia.
Unraveling the Sleep-Dementia Mystery: A Deep Dive into Women’s Cognitive Health
“Did you know that Alzheimer’s disease affects twice as many women as men? This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a call to action.”
Interviewer: Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading expert in sleep medicine and neurocognitive disorders, welcome to world-today-news.com. The Scripps Research REFRESH-NOW study is shining a light on the critical link between sleep and cognitive decline in women. Can you elaborate on the significance of this research?
Dr. Sharma: Thank you for having me. The REFRESH-NOW study is indeed groundbreaking. For years,sleep disturbances in dementia patients were frequently enough seen as a consequence of the disease.REFRESH-NOW challenges this assumption, investigating whether poor sleep quality and patterns might actually contribute to—or even cause—cognitive decline, especially in women. This is crucial as understanding this relationship could lead to preventative measures and potentially delay or even reduce the risk of dementia. The fact that women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s makes this research even more vital.
The Role of Sleep in Cognitive Health
Interviewer: The study uses wearable technology to track sleep patterns over three years.How does this approach improve upon traditional sleep studies? What are the advantages of using wearable sensors to monitor sleep duration and quality?
Dr. Sharma: traditional polysomnography, while the gold standard, is invasive and limits the study to a single night in a sleep lab—not a real-world reflection of sleep patterns. Wearable technology offers a revolutionary approach. Wrist-worn activity trackers and smartwatches allow for longitudinal data collection—monitoring sleep over extended periods in a participant’s natural sleep habitat. This provides a much more comprehensive and accurate picture of their sleep habits, including sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep fragmentation, and circadian rhythm stability. Data gathered passively, from the comfort of a person’s own home is less likely to be influenced by the unnatural environment of a clinical setting, and avoids the need for multiple, invasive sensor applications common in laboratory-based studies. These are vast and frequently enough-overlooked improvements to traditional sleep studies.
Understanding sleep Apnea’s Influence
Interviewer: The study also considers sleep apnea risk factors.How does sleep apnea relate to cognitive decline, and what role does this play in the REFRESH-NOW study’s overall goals?
Dr. Sharma: Sleep apnea, characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, is strongly linked to cognitive impairment. The repeated disruptions in oxygen levels and sleep architecture can affect brain function over time. Including sleep apnea risk assessment in REFRESH-NOW allows researchers to tease apart the specific contributions of various sleep disturbances to cognitive decline. By identifying those at higher risk for sleep apnea, effective management of the condition could become a significant preventative strategy, further highlighting the importance of sleep hygiene in preserving cognitive function.
Cognitive Assessments and Long-Term Impact
Interviewer: The study incorporates at-home cognitive assessments.What types of assessments are used,and how do these measures help researchers understand the impact of sleep on cognition?
Dr. Sharma: Researchers use a battery of cognitive tests assessing various domains, including memory (both short-term and long-term), attention, executive function (planning, problem-solving), and processing speed. These tests are administered repeatedly over the three years, allowing for monitoring of cognitive changes. by correlating these changes with the sleep data, researchers aim to pinpoint the specific sleep-related factors – sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep disturbances like apnea – which most strongly predict cognitive decline. Correlating longitudinal data allows for a richer understanding of the subtle changes over time, making the findings more significant.
The future of Sleep Research and Dementia Prevention
Interviewer: What are the potential implications of the REFRESH-NOW study for future interventions aimed at preventing or delaying cognitive decline in women?
Dr. Sharma: the REFRESH-NOW study could be a game-changer. By identifying specific sleep-related risk factors, the research will pave the way for targeted interventions. These could include:
Personalized sleep hygiene recommendations: Tailored interventions to address individual sleep problems.
Early detection and treatment of sleep disorders: Screening and management of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders as a preventative measure.
Lifestyle modifications: Promoting healthy sleep habits through changes in diet, exercise, and stress management.
Development of novel therapies: New medications or devices could be developed to modulate sleep and improve cognitive outcomes.
By understanding the nuanced relationship between sleep and cognitive health, this research holds enormous promise for protecting the cognitive well-being of women as they age.
Interviewer: Dr. Sharma, thank you for shedding light on this crucial research. Where can our readers learn more about the REFRESH-NOW study and related research?
Dr. Sharma: Readers can find more details by searching for “REFRESH-NOW study” online. Staying informed about sleep health research is key to proactive age management and cognitive wellbeing.I would also encourage readers to engage in the comments section below and share their thoughts on this vital research. Let’s continue the discussion!