Boston University School of Medicine and Bristol Myers Squibb monitor sleep in Alzheimer’s patients

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia, the ongoing decline of brain function. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases, affecting an estimated 1 in 14 people over 65 and 1 in 6 over 80. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease affects those under 65, occuring in 1 in every 13 people.

It is a progressive disease, with symptoms typically including mild memory loss in the early stages, and by the late-stage individuals may lose the ability to make conversation and respond. The cause is not fully understood, but increasing age, family history, and lifestyle factors are thought to increase the risk.

A 2022 study by Boston University School of Medicine and Bristol Myers Squibb explored a novel, home-administered protocol using wearables to monitor how sleep quality impacts Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Cognitive task performance and sleep metrics collected by healthy adults and individuals with AD from various age groups were used to assess memory consolidation. EmbracePlus, used to track actigraphy, was worn consecutively over a 21-day period to gather continuous Movement Intensity, Pulse Rate Variability, and Skin Conductance Level digital biomarkers and raw data. A preliminary analysis of the data from 10 participants revealed 92% wearing compliance throughout the study duration. These findings suggest that the use of wearables allows researchers to remotely collect data to track long-term cognitive changes with high compliance.