Improving sleep for older adults by adjusting bedroom temperature

Optimizing Bedroom Temperature to Improve Sleep in Older Adults

This study is testing if adjusting bedroom temperature with smart technology can help older adults sleep better.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (estimated)
• Ages: 65 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Hebrew SeniorLife (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Trial ID: NCT06770400 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to enhance sleep quality in older adults by using smart technology to optimize bedroom temperature. It leverages wearable health trackers and smart thermostats to automate temperature adjustments based on individual preferences and sleep data. The intervention is designed to address the challenges older adults face in maintaining a comfortable sleeping environment, which can significantly impact their overall health and wellbeing. By personalizing temperature control, the study seeks to provide a cost-effective solution to improve sleep without the burden of complex interventions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are older adults aged 65 and above who live in the greater Boston area and have access to a stable internet connection.

Not a fit: Patients with diagnosed sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or chronic insomnia may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to improved sleep quality and overall health for older adults.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated that optimizing environmental factors like temperature can significantly improve sleep quality, suggesting a promising avenue for this intervention.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. At least 65 years old
2. Willing to follow study protocols for the duration of the study
3. Living in the greater Boston metropolitan area
4. Access to stable internet connection within their home
5. Stable medication
6. Ability to speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria have been selected to ensure safety and optimize compliance, while minimizing confounds due to overt disease or conditions that may significantly influence study outcomes. The following exclusion criteria will be used to determine eligibility through a phone interview followed by an in-person screening. The exclusion criteria apply to both phases.

1. Stated plans to not live within current place of residence for the duration of the study
2. Inability to properly use the wearable device or complete the daily questionnaire.
3. Self-report of physician-diagnosed sleep apnea or other diagnosed sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome and chronic insomnia
4. Inability to ambulate without the assistance of others
5. Self- or proxy-report of physician-diagnosed dementia or overt neurological diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, stroke, or Multiple sclerosis
6. Evidence of severe cognitive impairment defined as a Modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-m) score \< 25
7. Self-report of physician-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
8. Lack of a thermostat-controlled heating and cooling system to adjust the bedroom temperature. The existing system must be compatible with the thermostat selected in this study (Ecobee)
9. Self-report of any unstable psychiatric illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis.
10. Self-report of unstable medical conditions (active cancer, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable heart disease, heart attack within the past 6 months)

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

• Hebrew SeniorLife — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Amir Baniassadi — Hebrew SeniorLife
• Study coordinator: Peyton Berning

Conditions: Sleep, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Sleep Disorder, Temperature, Older adults