Slow Wave Sleep as a Biomarker of Rehabilitation-induced Cognitive Improvement in PD

Slow Wave Sleep as a Biomarker of Rehabilitation-induced Cognitive Improvement in Parkinson's Disease R01 HD100670

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of exercise rehabilitation on cognition and to evaluate slow wave sleep (SWS) as a biomarker and mediator of response to rehabilitation-induced improvement in cognitive performance among persons with Parkinson's disease (PwP), with the ultimate goal of maximizing rehabilitation efficacy at the individual level (i.e. precision rehabilitation).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Parkinson Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Progressive Resistance Training (PRT); Other: Endurance Training (ET); Other: Delayed Exercise Training (DE)

Detailed Description

Sleep impairment adversely affects cognitive function and increases risk for dementia. Slow wave sleep (SWS) or delta sleep (non-rapid eye movement (REM) stage 3; N3) is especially important for cognition due to its association with synaptic plasticity, synaptic potentiation, synaptic renormalization, and cortical reorganization, especially in prefrontal cortex. Clinically, SWS contributes to memory consolidation and language performance. The investigators have previously shown that the amount of SWS in persons with Parkinson's disease (PwP) is related to cognitive performance, especially in the domain of executive function. The investigators have also shown that exercise increases SWS in some PwP and that participants who have an exercise-induced increase in SWS also have improvement in executive function. This study will evaluate changes in cognitive function and SWS due to progressive resistance training rehabilitation (PRT). Participants who do not have an increase in SWS with PRT (non-responders) over 12 weeks will be transitioned to an endurance training (ET) intervention, while those who do have an increase in SWS (responders) will continue in PRT for an additional 12 weeks.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amy W Amara, MD, PhD; Phone Number: 303.724.2194; Email: amy.amara@cuanschutz.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • Recruiting
      • University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
      • Contact: Amy W Amara, MD, PhD; Phone Number: 303.724.2194; Email: amy.amara@cuanschutz.edu
      • Contact: Heather Tansksley, MOT, OTR/L; Phone Number: 303-724-2642; Email: HEATHER.TANKSLEY@cuanschutz.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 45 years to 100 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion:

• clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PD, based on the presence of bradykinesia as well as at least one of the following: rest tremor, rigidity, and/or postural instability (per United Kingdom PD Brain Bank Criteria)
• Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-3 (performed at screening visit)
• age ≥ 45 and
• on stable medications for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry without expecting to change medications for the duration of the study.
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 18 and <26 (performed at screening visit)
• No contraindications to an exercise program.

Exclusion:

• fails exercise readiness evaluation at screening visit
• regular participation in an exercise program
• cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, including uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure, unstable coronary artery disease, serious arrhythmia, stroke within the past year, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• shift workers
• signs indicative of atypical Parkinsonism (cerebellar signs, supranuclear gaze palsy, apraxia, prominent autonomic failure, or other cortical signs)
• secondary Parkinsonism (neuroleptic treatment at time of onset of Parkinsonism or at time of study entry, history of multiple strokes with stepwise progression of Parkinsonism, or history of multiple head injuries)
• inability to walk without assistance
• deep brain stimulation (DBS)
• known narcolepsy
• untreated sleep apnea
• any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, will preclude the participant from successfully or safely completing study procedures.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Exercise Group; PD participants randomized to progressive resistance training PRT) will have 12 weeks of supervised PRT 3 times per week. After the 1st 12 weeks, responders to PRT (increase in slow wave sleep) will continue PRT for an additional 12 weeks, non-responders to PRT will transition to endurance training (ET).	Other: Progressive Resistance Training (PRT); PD subjects may be randomized (1:1) to PRT with supervised sessions 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Exercise training will consist of a combination of resistance training (RT) and bodyweight functional mobility exercises with limited rest intervals. The full volume exercise prescription will consist of: 1) five movements to improve strength and muscle mass each performed for 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions; 2) trunk exercises to improve postural stability; and 3) 3-4 bodyweight exercises to improve power and balance. Change in slow wave sleep (SWS) from baseline to 12-weeks will be used to determine the assignment in the second 12-week period. Subjects with an increase in SWS by >24 minutes will continue in PRT for the 2nd 12 weeks of the trial, while participants with <24 minutes increase in SWS will transition to endurance training (ET).; Other Names: PRT; Other: Endurance Training (ET); Non-responders to PRT will transition too ET during 2nd 12 weeks of the study. This intervention is supervised endurance training, 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Each session lasts approximately 75 min., comprised of warm-up, stimulus phase for 50-60 min., and cool-down. Sessions are split between cycle ergometer and treadmill exercise. Participant heart rate is monitored to maintain target exercise intensity of 60-80% (±5%) of heart rate reserve (HRR).; Other Names: ET
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Delayed Exercise Group; PD participants randomized to the delayed exercise control group will not exercise for the 1st 12 weeks of the study. After the 1st 12 weeks, participants in the delayed exercise group will transition to PRT for the 2nd 12 weeks.	Other: Progressive Resistance Training (PRT); PD subjects may be randomized (1:1) to PRT with supervised sessions 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Exercise training will consist of a combination of resistance training (RT) and bodyweight functional mobility exercises with limited rest intervals. The full volume exercise prescription will consist of: 1) five movements to improve strength and muscle mass each performed for 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions; 2) trunk exercises to improve postural stability; and 3) 3-4 bodyweight exercises to improve power and balance. Change in slow wave sleep (SWS) from baseline to 12-weeks will be used to determine the assignment in the second 12-week period. Subjects with an increase in SWS by >24 minutes will continue in PRT for the 2nd 12 weeks of the trial, while participants with <24 minutes increase in SWS will transition to endurance training (ET).; Other Names: PRT; Other: Delayed Exercise Training (DE); PD subjects randomized to the exercise control group (1:1) will not exercise during the first 12 weeks of the study. During that time, they will be asked not to change their physical activity levels or dietary habits. All participants in the delayed-exercise group will begin PRT at completion of the 1st 12-week period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Cognition in Stroop inhibition	Change in executive function on the Stroop inhibition	Baseline to twelve weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in slow wave sleep (SWS)	Change in slow wave sleep as measured by polysomnography	Change from baseline to twelve week and change from twelve weeks to 24 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
• Collaborators: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amy Amara, MD, PhD, University of Colorado, Denver

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): July 8, 2021
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): March 31, 2026
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): March 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 11, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 15, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): February 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 7, 2023
• Last Verified: February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Parkinson Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: 22-1685; R01HD100670 (NIH); IRB-300005901 (OTHER: UAB IRB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No