POINTER-zzz: Sleep and brain health study for people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: POINTER-zzz: Sleep ancillary to U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11449489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, long-term study is testing whether two lifestyle programs, including better sleep, can boost thinking skills in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,430,067 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AG064440-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at elevated risk for cognitive decline who are willing to participate in a long-term lifestyle program and sleep assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People not at risk for cognitive decline or unwilling to participate in a two-year lifestyle program and sleep monitoring may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on the POINTER trial to see if adding sleep assessments can help protect brain function in older adults at risk for dementia. It uses a multisite randomized design over two years to test two lifestyle approaches that target physical activity, nutrition, social engagement, cardiovascular health, and now sleep health. The study collects in-home sleep data from many participants to understand how sleep disturbances relate to cognitive outcomes over time. Results so far suggest that the structured program may offer greater cognitive benefit than a self-guided one, with sleep data helping to explain why. The ongoing extension will track long-term effects to clarify whether sleep-related improvements translate into lasting brain health benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could inform personalized lifestyle strategies, including sleep optimization, to help maintain cognitive function in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous POINTER results showed cognitive benefits from structured lifestyle programs, and the sleep-extended analysis builds on those findings with promising preliminary sleep-related insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Laura D. — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Baker, Laura D.
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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.