Using a sleep aid to reduce Alzheimer's disease risk

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates whether long-term treatment with the sleep aid suvorexant can slow the accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. Participants aged 65 and older will be treated with either suvorexant or a placebo, and the study will measure changes in amyloid-β levels using plasma tests. The goal is to determine if improving sleep can have a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease progression.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female.
* Any race or ethnicity.
* Participants must be age ≥65 years and able to sign informed consent.
* Global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0.
* Willing and able to undergo study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of reported symptoms suggestive of restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy or other central disorder of hypersomnolence, or parasomnia
* STOP-Bang score \>6 for participants without PAP
* Untreated OSA with AHI ≥15 on home sleep test
* Treated sleep apnea with PAP non-compliance

  * PAP compliance is defined as \>= 4 hours per night \>70% of the nights
* Plasma A-beta and tau test with a plasma p-tau 217% ≤ 1.19
* Stroke.
* Chronic kidney disease defined as patients with markers of kidney damage or eGFR of \< 45 ml/min/1.73m2.
* Hepatic impairment defined as AST and/or ALT \> 2x upper limit of normal (normal limits AST: 11-47 IU/L, ALT: 6-53 IU/L).
* HIV/AIDS.
* History of substance abuse or alcohol abuse in the proceeding 6 months.
* Regular alcohol consumption 3 or more days a week over the last 6 months. Regular alcohol consumption is defined as having more than 2 alcoholic beverages within 3 hours of bedtime. Participants that agree to reduce alcohol consumption during the study may not be excluded.
* History of presence of any clinically significant medical condition, behavioral or psychiatric disorder, or surgical history based on medical record or participant report that could affect the safety of the participant or interfere with study assessments or in the judgement of the Principal-Investigator (PI) if participant is not a good candidate.
* Has any medical condition that, in the PI's opinion, could increase risk to the participant, limit the participant's ability to tolerate the research procedures, or interfere with the collection/analysis of the data. Potential medical conditions that will be exclusionary at the PI's discretion:

  * Cardiovascular disease requiring medication except for controlled hypertension.
  * Pulmonary disease.
  * Type I diabetes.
  * Neurologic or psychiatric disorder requiring medication.
  * Tobacco use.
  * Use of sedating medications.
  * Use of medications that interact with suvorexant (if cannot be discontinued)
  * Abnormal safety labs
* History of current suicidal ideations.
* Currently pregnant or breast-feeding.
* In the opinion of the PI, the participant should be excluded due to an abnormal physical examination.
* Must not have participated in any clinical trial involving a study drug or device within the 30-days prior to study enrollment.
* Must not participate in another drug or device study prior to the end of this study participation.

Exclusion criteria for optional lumbar punctures

-• Contraindication to lumbar puncture (anticoagulants; bleeding disorder; allergy to lidocaine or disinfectant; prior central nervous system or lower back surgery).

Where it's running

• Washington University School of Medicine
  St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Brendan Lucey, MD — Washington Univeristy School of Medicine
• Study coordinator: Cristina Toedebusch, BS
• Email: toedebuschc@wustl.edu
• Phone: 3147470646

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.