Effects of Chronic Sleep Restriction in Young and Older People

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Metabolic Syndrome; Aging; Sleep Deprivation

• Registration Number: NCT00506428
• Lead Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the consequences of chronic sleep restriction on nighttime sleep, daytime alertness, performance and memory functions, and metabolic and cardiovascular function, and to determine if the consequences of chronic sleep restriction differ between healthy young and older adults.

Detailed Description

It has long been recognized that sleep patterns change with age. A common feature of aging is the advance of the timing of sleep to earlier hours, often earlier than desired. Polysomnographically-recorded sleep in older people shows an increased number of awakenings, a reduction of stages 3 and 4 (SWS) sleep, and a flattening of REM sleep distribution throughout the night. These age-related changes are found in even healthy individuals who are not taking medications and who are free from sleep disorders. In addition to these sleep disturbances, many older individuals curtail their sleep voluntarily, reporting similar rates of sleep restriction (sleeping less than 7 or less than 6 hours per night) as young adults. Whether voluntary or not, insufficient sleep has medical, safety and metabolic consequences. In fact, converging evidence in young adults suggests that sleep restriction per se may impair metabolism, and that reduced sleep duration is associated with weight gain, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.

The study begins with 21 days of outpatient study in which the participants will be required to sleep for 10 hours each night in order to ensure they are well-rested. This will be followed by a 39-day inpatient study. The study will begin with 3 "sleep satiation" days during which all participants will be scheduled to sleep for 12 hours per night and have a 4 hour nap each afternoon. This is followed by 3 baseline days in which the participants will follow the same sleep-wake schedule they were following at home. Following this, the participant will undergo 3 weeks of chronic sleep restriction while living on a non-24-hour schedule. The participant will live on a schedule that is equivalent to 5.6 hours of sleep per 24 hours. Following these 3 weeks, the participant will be scheduled to again sleep for 10 hours per night for 10 nights.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-12
• Study First Submitted: 2007-04-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-07-20
• Study First Posted: 2007-07-25
• Status Verified: 2009-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2009-04-28
• Last Update Posted: 2009-04-29
• Primary Completion: 2011-06
• Study Completion: 2011-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 25

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy

Exclusion Criteria

• Chronic or acute medical condition
• Medication use
• Depression
• History of psychiatric illness
• Sleep disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
frequent measures of performance, attention, alertness, and memory	During 3-week chronic sleep restriction segment of inpatient study
Changes in sleep and waking EEG measures	During 3-week chronic sleep restriction segment of inpatient study
measures of cardiovascular and metabolic function	During 3-week chronic sleep restriction segment of inpatient study

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Brigham & Women's Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States