MCI: CPAP Treatment of OSA (Memories2)

Mild Cognitive Impairment Clinical Trial

— MCI:OSA  

Official title:

Changing the Trajectory of Mild Cognitive Impairment With CPAP Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Active, not recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03113461
• Other study ID #: PD10057866
• Secondary ID: R01AG054435
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 19, 2018
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: April 2023
• Source: University of Pennsylvania
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this project is to determine whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment with positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) can delay the progression of cognitive impairment in patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) as measured by cognitive testing, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Study participants will be assessed at baseline, six-month (cognitive tests only) and one-year follow-up.

Description:

A growing number of research studies suggest that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by episodic nocturnal collapse of the upper airway and reduction/cessation of breathing leading to significant nocturnal hypoxia, is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. OSA is effectively treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a pressurized nasal/face mask worn during sleep, but health care providers do not often prescribe it for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) because there are no large, prospective research studies in this population confirming efficacy.

This multi-site study will have a sample size of n=460 divided into three groups followed for one year: 1) a CPAP adherent group (approximately n=200); 2) two control groups consisting of 2a) a CPAP non-adherent control group (approximately n=160) and 2b) a no apnea control group (n=100). This will allow us to confirm whether CPAP treatment, controlling for risk factors such as neuroimaging findings and OSA severity at baseline, predicts the primary outcome of cognitive function at 1-year follow-up. Study participants will also undergo an Amyloid PET scan, use wearable activity monitors and functional/structural MRI brain scans.

This research study will thus examine the one year effects of CPAP on cognitive function and elucidate physiological mechanisms for cognitive decline in aMCI and OSA.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Enrollment: 327
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: January 31, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 55 Years to 85 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age 55-85 years;

2. moderate to severe OSA as defined by an AHI = 15 events/hr, or no apnea defined by an AHI<5 events/hr using American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) diagnostic methodology as determined on a diagnostic polysomnography;

3. Scoring education adjusted scores 28-35 (inclusive) on optional Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Modified (pre-screen);

4. Scoring 0-0.5 on the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR);

5. Scoring 23-30 on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (exceptions may be made for participants with <8 years of education as determined by the clinical research team);

6. Memory impairment approximately 1.0-1.5 standard deviations below normal (adjusted for age and education) determined by scores on the Logical Memory II a test from the Wechsler memory scale;

7. permitted medications (antidepressants, etc.) stable for at least 4 weeks (12 weeks for cholinesterase inhibitors/memantine) as per ADNI3 criteria;

8. Non-depressed: Scoring < 6 on the Geriatric Depression Scale;

9. study partner, defined as an informant/caregiver who will be able to answer questions about the study participant, and meets one of the following criteria: (a) lives with the participant; (b) spends at least 3 times per week in-person contact with the participant; (c) spends at least 3 times per week in phone contact with the participant; or (d) spends at least 10 hours per week in any combination of phone or in person contact;

10. adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow testing;

11. Post-menopause or surgically sterile;

12. testability - willing and able to complete baseline, 6-month, and 1-year outcome measures, and willing to send in the CPAP Smartcard for adherence;

13. completed at least 6 grades of education; and

14. fluent in English or Spanish.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. any significant neurologic disease other than aMCI, such as Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple sclerosis, head trauma followed by permanent neurologic deficits or known congenital brain structure abnormalities; within the past 6 months brain tumor, or seizure disorder, or subdural hematoma, or post-stroke (based on Modified Hachinski Ischemic Score);

2. Optional: MRI exclusions - presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments or foreign objects in the eyes, skin, or body; however, the participant has the option of participating in the study without having an MRI;

3. psychiatric disorders, including uncontrolled major depression, newly diagnosed or exacerbation in past 6 months of bipolar disorder as described in the DSM-IV, psychotic features, agitation or behavioral problems within the past 6 months that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol, or history of schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria);

4. history of alcohol abuse or dependence within the past 6 months (DSM-IV criteria);

5. any current significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition that could lead to difficulty in complying with the protocol (such as unstable cardiovascular disease); current use of supplemental oxygen or hypoxemia indicated by documented daytime oxyhemoglobin saturation <90% on room air, uncontrolled thyroid disease (to be included must be on stable dose of thyroid medication for >6 months), uncontrolled cirrhosis, cancer diagnosis within the past 6 months (exceptions may be made at the PI's discretion depending on cancer severity and the treatment required), clinically significant laboratory abnormalities such as reported untreated folate, B12, or TSH disease, or resident of a skilled nursing facility;

6. participation in clinical studies involving neuropsychological measures being conducted more than twice a year;

7. received and was adherent to CPAP or bi-level pressure for OSA within the past 6 months;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Apnea
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Sleep Apnea Syndromes
• Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

Intervention

Device:
• CPAP
non-invasive positive airway pressure applied using an oronasal mask

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Texas at Austin	Austin	Texas
United States	University of Virginia	Charlottesville	Virginia
United States	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania
United States	Washington University in St. Louis	Saint Louis	Missouri

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Pennsylvania	National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Digit Symbol-Coding test	incorporates both elements of memory and processing speed and correlates with executive functioning	one-year follow-up
Secondary	Clinical Dementia Rating Scale	Assessment of global cognition	one-year follow-up