Sleep apnea and thinking skills in Native American older adults
Cognition After OSA Treatment Among Native American People
['FUNDING_P01'] · WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11173695
This project will see if treating sleep apnea with positive airway pressure improves thinking and memory in older Native American adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PULLMAN, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11173695 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will screen about 450 members of two Northern Plains reservation communities who are part of the Strong Heart Study for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and measure their cognitive function. People with suspected OSA will undergo home sleep testing with the WATCHPAT device and be offered a new intervention built around positive airway pressure therapy. The team will then run a randomized pragmatic trial to compare cognitive outcomes and related Alzheimer’s biomarkers between those who receive the intervention and usual care. Study activities will include in-person visits, home monitoring, and follow-up cognitive testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Native American adults age 55 or older who are members of the Strong Heart Study cohorts or live on the participating Northern Plains reservations and have suspected or diagnosed OSA.
Not a fit: People without sleep apnea, those younger than 55, or individuals who do not live in the participating communities are unlikely to benefit from joining this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, treating OSA could improve attention and memory and help lower Alzheimer’s risk among Native American elders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical trials show positive airway pressure can improve cognition and alter Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers in some patients, but applying this approach in American Indian communities via a pragmatic trial is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
PULLMAN, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY — PULLMAN, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SINCLAIR, KA'IMI ALOHILANI — WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SINCLAIR, KA'IMI ALOHILANI
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 below.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome