# Nighttime Agitation and Restless Legs Syndrome in People with Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2020 · $531,481

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract.
 Factors associated with Covid-19 social distancing – such as isolation from family, restricted
movement, insufficient sunlight and social and physical activity, lack of caregiver support
services, and caregiver exhaustion - may adversely impact the well-being of older adults with
Alzheimer’s disease related dementia. Because older adults with dementia are cognitively and
verbally unable to express their distress, and both sunlight and activity are necessary for healthy
sleep patterns, social distancing may increase agitation behaviors, worsen sleep patterns, and
increase prescriptions for antipsychotics and sedating medications to manage these problems.
 We propose an Administrative Supplement to the NightRest study, R01AG051588, to
determine the impact of social distancing on the well-being of older adults with Alzheimer’s
disease related dementia. The primary specific aim is to determine the impact of social
distancing on nighttime agitation and sleep. The hypothesis is: social distancing will result in
more nighttime agitation and less sleep. Aim 2 will explore the impact of social distancing on
physical function and use of antipsychotics and other sedating medications. Aim 3 will explore
the impact of social distancing from the perspectives of family caregivers using qualitative
interviews and a Facebook survey. The research will employ an observational study design.
Participants from the NightRest trial, 50 pre- and 50 post-Covid-19, living independently or in
nursing homes, matched on relevant variables, will be used for Aims 1 and 2. Content analysis
of 30 family caregiver qualitative interviews (Aim 3) will result in a list of priorities to minimize the
impact of social distancing. Family caregivers accessed via a Facebook survey will rank and
add to the priorities.
 Because the NightRest study team possesses pre-Covid-19 data, has access to family
caregivers who have expressed interest in future studies, and has developed and piloted virtual
data collection methods, we are uniquely positioned to determine the impact of Covid-19 social
distancing policies on well-being. We also have the ability and the networks to translate the
findings. The results will be widely disseminated in November/December, 2020 to stakeholders
and other policy influencers through social media, press releases, and presentations. The
proposed project may result in more tailored social distancing policies in the future. Further,
dissemination of nursing home realities to a world closely following Covid-19 developments may
ultimately result in better nursing home care, not just for now, but also in the future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167515
- **Project number:** 3R01AG051588-06S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathy Culpepper Richards
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $531,481
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167515

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167515, Nighttime Agitation and Restless Legs Syndrome in People with Alzheimer's Disease (3R01AG051588-06S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167515. Licensed CC0.

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