Sleep and Biomarkers - From Aging to Alzheimer’s Disease (SPIRE): An Innovative Multi-Modal Research Approach.

In the absence of curative dementia drugs, it is crucial to investigate modifiable risk factors.

Sleep disturbances have a wide range of negative health/neurological consequences, rendering it a public health problem with substantial burdens.

Although half of older adults report sleep disturbances, there are important knowledge gaps regarding at-risk groups, underlying mechanisms and only modest knowledge translation/implementation.

Using a multi-method approach, the goal of SPIRE is to investigate the multi-system biological mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances (multimodal neuroimaging, Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, microbiome, cortisol, telomere length, inflammation, brain iron deposition), and translate the findings to interventions/implementation tools.

Specific aims are to: 1) Investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the associations between sleep disturbances and cognitive outcomes using 7 large well-characterized Nordic cohort and clinic-based studies. 2) Assess the impact of 2 state-of-the-art multidomain lifestyle interventions trials (diet, exercise, cognitive training, vascular risk management) on sleep. 3) Examine the biological mechanisms underlying the lifestyle intervention effects on sleep. 4) Incorporate SPIRE findings into novel eHealth tools.

This interdisciplinary project takes place in a unique infrastructure, with world-renowned experts, and will enable the development of tailored interventions for research/public health settings.