Clinical Research Studies

The purpose of this research study is to is to test whether poor slow wave sleep (SWS), the most restful sleep stage, is one of the physiological factors that increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease among African-Americans when compared to Caucasians (hereafter referred to as ‘whites’). African-Americans (AAs) have a higher risk of both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, when compared to whites. Sleep characteristics vary between AAs and whites. AAs take longer to fall asleep, have shorter sleep duration, lower sleep quality and less slow wave sleep (SWS) duration than whites. This research study is being done to collect information about sleep as a potential risk factor that may increase Alzheimer’s disease burden particularly in African-Americans.