The Einstein Aging Study (EAS), a longitudinal research study that focuses on the aging brain, is one of the longest running studies of its kind in the United States and has been a cornerstone of our department’s research on aging, with continuous funding by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) for more than 40 years. Carol Derby, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology & Population Health at Montefiore Einstein and Louis and Gertrude Feil Faculty Scholar in Neurology, is principal investigator for a National Institute on Aging (NIA)/NIH-funded research study on “Sleep, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Cognitive Function” that is being conducted by Montefiore Einstein researchers as part of the well-established Einstein Aging Study ​​(EAS P01; NIA- AG03949).  Using ambulatory methods such as smartphones and mobile wearable devices, our research focuses on examining how sleep health is related to cognition both day to day and over the long term in order to better understand how poor sleep health may predict the risk for dementia. By linking data from an actigraphy sleep watch with daily smartphone-based and clinical cognitive assessments, the study hopes to identify whether sleep may be a modifiable target for preventing cognitive impairment. The study is being conducted in collaboration with co-principal investigator Dr. Orfeu Buxton, PhD, at Pennsylvania State University.

Sleep disturbances are common among older adults and have been identified as a potential target for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Many prior studies have not examined the daily changes in cognition in relation to sleep. Early work from the Einstein study has suggested that a night of worse-than-usual sleep is related to the ability to receive and process information the following day. The study has also shown that the consistency of sleep, not just the level of sleep, is important for cognitive functioning. This is important, as optimal cognitive performance impacts the ability to navigate daily activities. Furthermore, individuals whose daily cognition is impacted by a poor night’s sleep may be at elevated risk for cognitive impairment or dementia over the long term.  

The study is also using wearable devices to gather data regarding activity patterns across the 24-hour day. The goal is to combine activity data with sleep data to expand knowledge of the independent and joint effects of sleep, physical activity and sedentary behavior on cognition in older adults. The hope is to inform targeted behavioral interventions to delay the onset of ADRD and identify potential prevention targets.

At Montefiore Einstein, we are committed to innovation in neurology and aging research and improving outcomes for individuals with or at risk for ADRD. We’re ranked in the top 1% of all hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery according to U.S. News & World Report, and we are an international referral site for the most complex cases.

The $3.2 million five-year grant renewal supports the “Sleep, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Cognitive Function,” study, a subproject and part of the Einstein Aging Study—which has received a $32 million five-year grant renewal for 2022-2027 from the NNIA, part of the NIH. (Project Number: 5P01AG003949-40 8099)