Dr. Laura Batterink

Assistant Professor in Psychology and a member of the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University

Project name: Improving sleep via phase-locked auditory stimulation in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

As people age, they often experience less and poorer quality deep sleep, which can impact cognitive function and well-being. Dr. Batterink aims to demonstrate that phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS), a non-invasive technique involving sound delivery through headphones during sleep, can enhance deep sleep and improve cognition, memory, and cerebral blood flow in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). If successful, this project will determine whether PLAS can effectively improve sleep and cognitive function in individuals with MCI and whether increasing deep sleep can reduce brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Andrew Lim

Staff Neurologist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Project name: Treating Sleep Apnea to Improve Cognitive Function, Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology, and Astrocyte and Microglial Activation in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Sleep apnea is associated with poorer sleep and may also contribute to dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it remains unclear if sleep apnea is a risk factor for dementia or a concomitant disorder in people who are at a higher risk for dementia. Dr. Lim aims to investigate if a causal relationship exists between sleep apnea and dementia by conducting an interventional study (randomized control trial) to compare the dementia risk profile of people with sleep apnea treated with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) versus those who are not treated with CPAP. The study will assess if CPAP therapy can improve cognitive performance and reduce pathological markers associated with AD. If successful, this project will show that sleep apnea could be a risk factor for dementia, and that treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP may contribute to reducing the risk for AD.   

Dr. Ron Postuma

Clinical Researcher and Movement Disorder Neurologist, and Co-Director of the National Residents Course in movements disorders

Project name: At-home diagnosis of REM sleep behavior disorder and prodromal Parkinson’s disease using actigraphy

REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is associated with uncontrollable movements while sleeping (i.e., acting out dreams) and a higher risk for Parkinson’s disease (PD). There’s an urgent need to find an easy and inexpensive method that allows for earlier diagnosis of people with RBD and who are at risk for PD. Dr. Postuma proposes to develop a quick and accurate diagnostic tool for RBD by leveraging existing wearable technology that can be used at home (e.g., actigraphy) and applying state-of-the-art data analysis. Successful completion of this project will show actigraphy can be used to diagnose RBD, paving the way for the implementation of an inexpensive and easy to use method to identify RBD patients, and potentially predicting the likelihood of progression towards PD.   

Dr. Sylvia Villeneuve

Associate Professor in Psychiatry, McGill University and a researcher at Douglas Research Centre

Project name: Improving sleep to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Poor sleep has been associated with brain changes linked to neurodegenerative diseases of aging, potentially increasing the risk of these conditions. Dr. Villeneuve is investigating how poor sleep quality might affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through two approaches. The first is an observational study, whichwill use existing longitudinal data to see if poor sleep quality is linked to brain changes associated with AD. The second is an interventional study (clinical trial), which will test whether the drug Lemborexant, a drug originally developed to treat insomnia, can prevent AD pathology accumulation and potentially lower the risk of developing AD. If successful, this project will contribute to our understanding of whether sleep directly contributes to an increased risk of AD.

Dr. Najib Ayas

Associate Professor, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UBC

Project name: The Impact of Adherence to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment on Markers of Neurodegeneration: An Analysis of the Prospective Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network Cohort

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition marked by the repeated collapse of the airway during sleep, resulting in frequent interruptions and a decrease in oxygen levels. Research suggests that OSA may raise the risk of long-term cognitive issues by 26%, potentially leading to neurodegeneration. Dr. Ayas is exploring whether adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which enhances sleep quality, can reduce biological markers of neurodegeneration. Additionally, he will examine whether biomarkers related to OSA can predict the onset or progression of neurodegeneration in affected individuals. If successful, this project could establish a link between OSA and an increased risk of neurodegeneration, while identifying a treatment that may prevent or slow its progression.