# Primary Prevention of Alzheimer's disease: Examining the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on cognitive function and amyloid-beta in older adults with symptoms of insomnia

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $736,351

## Abstract

Project Summary
Lifestyle interventions to increase exercise and improve diet have been the focus of recent clinical trials to
potentially prevent Alzheimer's disease. However, despite the strong links between sleep disruptions, cognitive
decline, and Alzheimer's disease, sleep enhancement has yet to be targeted as a lifestyle intervention to
prevent Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 15% of Alzheimer's disease may be attributed to sleep
disruptions. Individuals with insomnia are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and
demonstrate decline in cognitive function at long-term follow-up. An intervention aimed at improving insomnia
is a critical opportunity for primary prevention to slow cognitive decline and potentially delay the onset of
Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an efficacious treatment for
insomnia, but the use of CBT-I to improve cognitive function and potentially reduce the rate of Aβ accumulation
has never been examined. Therefore, the long-term goal of this research agenda is to understand how
addressing sleep disturbances may delay the onset of AD. The objective of the proposed study is to compare
the efficacy of CBT-I on improving cognitive function older adults with symptoms of insomnia. The aims of the
study are to examine the efficacy of CBT-I on improving cognitive function in older adults with symptoms of
insomnia (Aim 1), determine the association between change in sleep measures and change in cognitive
function (Aim 2), and examine the efficacy of CBT-I on reducing the rate of Aβ deposition in older adults with
symptoms of insomnia (exploratory aim). This study is directly in line with PAR-18-175 to assess “sleep
enhancement” as a “non-pharmacological intervention” to address “age-related cognitive decline” in older
adults who are “pre-symptomatic.”
Two hundred (n=200) cognitively normal (CDR = 0) individuals age 60-85 with symptoms of insomnia will be
recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to a 6-week one-on-one cognitive behavioral therapy for
insomnia (CBT-I) intervention or to an active control condition. Participants will undergo a sophisticated battery
of cognitive tests and polysomnography to assess sleep quality and sleep characteristics at baseline and
reassessment immediately following the intervention and at a 1 year. A subgroup of individuals (n=50) will
undergo Florbetapir PET imaging to examine the efficacy of CBT-I on reducing the rate of Aβ deposition at
baseline and at the 1 year reassessment. Effective interventions that could delay the onset of Alzheimer's
disease are critically needed. This research is significant because approximately 15% of AD may be prevented
by an efficacious intervention aimed to reduce sleep disturbances and sleep disorders. This proposed study is
innovative because no prior studies have targeted sleep disturbances as a possible opportunity to impact the
development of Alzheimer's disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10077520
- **Project number:** 5R01AG058530-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Catherine F Siengsukon
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $736,351
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10077520

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10077520, Primary Prevention of Alzheimer's disease: Examining the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on cognitive function and amyloid-beta in older adults with symptoms of insomnia (5R01AG058530-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10077520. Licensed CC0.

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