Analysis of sleep and circadian rhythms in Alzheimer’s disease

I will be developing analysis tools for studying sleep and circadian rhythms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This project is a continuation of the project I worked on last summer at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and is a sub-study of a clinical trial that aims to evaluate the optimal dose of an oral food supplement that is high in medium-chain triglycerides in patients suffering from mild-moderate AD. My work is focused on protocol development and data analysis using the Clocklab software to analyze actigraphy data and MATLAB to analyze EEG data collected during sleep in the home environment.

The overarching project has two key goals. Firstly, it is investigating the tolerability and effectiveness of a novel treatment for AD. There are currently no disease modifying treatments available for AD, so there is a desperate need to develop novel therapeutics that can help alleviate symptoms and delay the onset of cognitive impairment. Secondly, AD is associated with a disruption of the sleep-wake cycle. This research will help further our understanding of the specific sleep disturbances experienced by patients, compared to healthy elderly control participants.

Faculty Supervisor:

Elizabeth Finger

Student:

Partner:

Harvard University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Western University

Program: