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Cognitive DeclineNCT06669546

Effects of Real vs. Soundless Acoustic Stimulation During Deep Sleep on Brain Activity, Memory, and Blood Biomarkers in Older Adults (60-85) With Mild Memory Impairment

A study testing Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS) in people with Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer Disease, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to explore a non-invasive way to improve memory and slow cognitive decline in older adults by enhancing sleep quality. Dementia, a leading cause of death worldwide, is often associated with disturbed sleep, particularly the loss of deep, slow-wave sleep (SWS). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 60 to 85 years
What is being tested?
Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS)
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteSwitzerland
Study dates
21 Feb 2025to Dec 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 60 to 85 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Written informed consent
  • Age between 60 and 85 years
  • Cognitive impairment (subjective and/or MoCA between 23-26)
  • Native German speakers or comparably fluent
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
  • Intact hearing
  • A close cohabitant (partner/sibling) should be present to support participants in using study materials/devices.

Who cannot join

  • Insomnia assessed by the Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS; Crönlein et al., 2013)
  • Restless leg syndrome assessed by questions concerning typical symptoms.
  • Sleep apnoea assessed by the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ; Netzer et al., 1999)
  • Severely irregular sleep patterns assessed by the RIS and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI; Buysse et al., 1989)
  • Symptoms of depression (Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; Yesavage et al., 1982) ≥ 5)
  • History of untreated severe neurological and psychiatric diseases
  • Alcohol or substance abuse
  • Use of medication acting on the central nervous system

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Korian Wicki, Master contact

+41 76 605 24 00

korian.wicki@unibe.ch

Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern

    Bern, 3000 60

    Korian Wicki, Master, + 41 (0)58 630 68 77, korian.wicki@unibe.ch

    Marina Wunderlin, PhD, +41 (0)31 932 87 07, marina.wunderlin@unibe.ch

    Recruiting

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: Preventing Cognitive Decline Using Portable, Non-invasive Sleep Enhancement

This study aims to explore a non-invasive way to improve memory and slow cognitive decline in older adults by enhancing sleep quality. Dementia, a leading cause of death worldwide, is often associated with disturbed sleep, particularly the loss of deep, slow-wave sleep (SWS). SWS is important for memory and clearing waste from the brain. Poor SWS can worsen memory loss and allow harmful waste to build up, which may increase the risk of dementia.

The investigators are testing whether phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS) can improve SWS in people at a mild stage of cognitive impairment. PLAS uses short sounds played at specific moments to strengthen slow-wave brain activity during sleep. The investigators previous laboratory based research has shown that this can improve memory and help with clearing waste from the brain. Now, the investigators want to test this in a real-world setting, over a longer period, which is unfeasible in a laboratory setting.

Read more

In this study, 60 older adults will use home-use devices that deliver either real or sham (soundless) PLAS across two different 4-week periods. Memory will be tested using engaging "serious games." Before and after each experimental period, blood samples will be taken to measure dementia-related markers, and cognitive batteries will be performed. The investigators expect that PLAS will improve sleep, and that this will have a downstream effect on memory and brain clearance, potentially slowing the process of cognitive decline.

If successful, this could lead to the development of an affordable treatment that helps people maintain brain health and prevent dementia.

Being tested
Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS), Sham Phase-Locked Auditory Stimulation
Keywords
Sleep, Dementia, Prevention, Phase-locked auditory stimulation, Blood-based biomarkers, Home, Longitudinal, Electroneurophysiology, EEG, Memory, Cognition, Serious games, Old age, Human
Medical subject headings
Cognitive Dysfunction, Alzheimer Disease, Dementia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS)Other

    Also called Acoustic stimulation, Phase-targeted auditory stimulation (PTAS), Auditory stimulation, Closed-loop acoustic stimulation

    Intervention: Verum Phase-Locked Auditory Stimulation (PLAS) Using the SleepLoop Device.

    The experimental intervention utilizes the SleepLoop device, a home-use, EEG-based system designed for phase-locked acoustic stimulation (PLAS). The device continuously monitors sleep through EEG (Fpz) alongside electrooculogram (EOG) and electromyogram (EMG) channels. The device employs a closed-loop algorithm that detects slow oscillations (SOs) in the EEG and delivers short sound stimuli (50 ms pink noise) during the positive half-waves of slow waves in slow-wave sleep (SWS). These stimuli are delivered through integrated headphones in the SleepLoop device. The intervention is applied during work days for 4 weeks. The algorithm is only active during SWS and does not deliver stimuli when the participant is awake, or in lighter sleep stages (N1, N2) or REM sleep. The intensity and algorithm sensitivity are individually calibrated for each participant to optimize stimulation.

  • Sham Phase-Locked Auditory StimulationOther

    Participants will undergo the same procedure as the real Phase-Locked Auditory Stimulation (PLAS) intervention. However, during the sham condition, the headphones are turned off, and no auditory stimulation is delivered.

Study groups in NCT06669546
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PLAS first, sham secondExperimentalIn this study arm, participants will undergo a 4-week intervention period with real phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS) administered on nights from Monday to Friday. Following this initial intervention period, participants will have a 2-week washout phase. Finally, participants will enter the second intervention period, during which sham (soundless) PLAS will be administered.
Receives: Other: Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS); Other: Sham Phase-Locked Auditory Stimulation
Sham first, PLAS secondExperimentalIn this study arm, participants will undergo a 4-week intervention period with sham (soundless) phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS) administered on nights from Monday to Friday. Following this initial intervention period, participants will have a 2-week washout phase. Finally, participants will enter the second intervention period, during which real PLAS will be administered.
Receives: Other: Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS); Other: Sham Phase-Locked Auditory Stimulation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Episodic memory performance differences (between and within subject) according to the experimental condition

    Episodic memory performance will be assessed by means of serious games.

    Measured: Participants will play serious games on weekdays during the adaptation week, as well as on weekdays throughout both the first and second 4-week intervention periods.

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Electrophysiological Response - Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)

    Electrophysiological responses will be measured via EEG to assess event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to real versus sham acoustic stimulation.

    Measured: Sleep-Electrophysiology will be measured on weekdays during the adaptation week, as well as on weekdays throughout both the first and second 4-week intervention periods.

  2. Electrophysiological Response - Power, Number, and Amplitude of Slow Oscillations (SO) and Spindles

    Electrophysiological responses will be measured via EEG to assess the power, number, and amplitude of slow oscillations (SO) and sleep spindles in response to real versus sham acoustic stimulation.

    Measured: Sleep-electrophysiology will be measured on weekdays during the adaptation week, as well as on weekdays throughout both the first and second 4-week intervention periods.

  3. Electrophysiological Response - Coupling of Slow Oscillations and Sleep Spindles

    Electrophysiological responses will be measured via EEG to assess the coupling between slow oscillations and spindles in response to real versus sham acoustic stimulation.

    Measured: Sleep-electrophysiology will be measured on weekdays during the adaptation week, as well as on weekdays throughout both the first and second 4-week intervention periods.

  4. Amyloid-Beta Response

    Blood samples will be collected to measure plasma amyloid-beta levels and compare them across conditions.

    Measured: At baseline, after 4 weeks, after 6 weeks, after 10 weeks

  5. Electrophysiology - Brain Age Estimation

    EEG, EMG, and ECG will be used to estimate brain age and assess whether PLAS leads to a rejuvenation of the brain, reflecting a younger brain state. Machine learning will analyze sleep-EEG data to provide an accurate brain age estimate.

    Measured: Sleep electrophysiology will be measured on weekdays during the adaptation week and on weekdays throughout both the first and second 4-week intervention periods.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Nov 2024
  2. Study start21 Feb 2025
  3. Primary completionMay 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06669546
Sponsor's protocol ID
2024-00409
Other IDs
215333
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
29 Oct 2024
Last updated
3 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Currently, there are no collaborations to disclose, but the investigators are generally open to such endeavours in the future. For this purpose, general consent for reuse of data is being collected from participants.

Publications

  • Lustenberger C, Ferster ML, Huwiler S, Brogli L, Werth E, Huber R, Karlen W. Auditory deep sleep stimulation in older adults at home: a randomized crossover trial. Commun Med (Lond). 2022 Apr 4;2:30. doi: 10.1038/s43856-022-00096-6. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 35603302
  • Wunderlin M, Zust MA, Hertenstein E, Feher KD, Schneider CL, Kloppel S, Nissen C. Modulating overnight memory consolidation by acoustic stimulation during slow-wave sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep. 2021 Jul 9;44(7):zsaa296. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa296.

    PubMed 33406249
  • Zeller CJ, Wunderlin M, Wicki K, Teunissen CE, Nissen C, Zust MA, Kloppel S. Multi-night acoustic stimulation is associated with better sleep, amyloid dynamics, and memory in older adults with cognitive impairment. Geroscience. 2024 Dec;46(6):6157-6172. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01195-z. Epub 2024 May 14.

    PubMed 38744792
  • Wunderlin M, Zeller CJ, Senti SR, Feher KD, Suppiger D, Wyss P, Koenig T, Teunissen CE, Nissen C, Kloppel S, Zust MA. Acoustic stimulation during sleep predicts long-lasting increases in memory performance and beneficial amyloid response in older adults. Age Ageing. 2023 Dec 1;52(12):afad228. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afad228.

    PubMed 38163288

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Phase-locked auditory stimulation (PLAS) in people with Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer Disease, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Marc A Züst, PhD (+41 (0)58 630 95 02, marc.a.zuest@unibe.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Episodic memory performance differences (between and within subject) according to the experimental condition (time frame: Participants will play serious games on weekdays during the adaptation week, as well as on weekdays throughout both the first and second 4-week intervention periods.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06669546, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Apr 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.

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