Treating sleep apnea to protect memory and Alzheimer's-related markers in older adults
Official title: Effects of Successful OSA TreatmENT on Memory and AD BIomarkers in Older AduLts (ESSENTIAL)
Funded at California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute · NIH-11190842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether treating obstructive sleep apnea with positive airway pressure can improve memory and lower Alzheimer's-related blood markers in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $9,466,491 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG080609-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea who are cognitively normal or have only early memory concerns and who are willing to try PAP therapy and attend study visits.
✕Less likely to help
People without obstructive sleep apnea, those with advanced Alzheimer's dementia, or individuals unable or unwilling to use PAP are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you are an older adult with sleep apnea, researchers will provide positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and follow your sleep and thinking over time. They will use memory tests that pick up sleep-related changes, monitor overnight sleep patterns, and collect blood samples to measure Alzheimer-related proteins such as amyloid, tau, and neurofilament light. The team will compare biomarker and memory changes when PAP is used versus when it is withdrawn or less adherent, and will study how treatment adherence affects outcomes. The goal is to see whether treating sleep apnea earlier can reduce brain injury and delay memory decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help slow memory loss and reduce Alzheimer's-related biomarkers by treating sleep apnea early.
How similar studies have gone: Observational studies and preliminary trials have linked OSA treatment to delayed cognitive decline and biomarker changes, but randomized evidence is limited and PAP adherence is a frequent challenge.
Where this research is happening
-
California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stone, Katie L — California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute
- Study coordinator: Stone, Katie L
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.