Acoustic stimulation during sleep predicts long-lasting increases in memory performance and beneficial amyloid response in older adults

Sleep and neurodegeneration are assumed to be locked in a bi-directional vicious cycle. Improving sleep could break this cycle and help to prevent neurodegeneration. We tested multi-night phase-locked acoustic stimulation (PLAS) during slow wave sleep (SWS) as a non-invasive method to improve SWS, memory performance and plasma amyloid levels.32 healthy older adults (agemean: 68.9) completed a between-subject sham-controlled three-night intervention, preceded by a sham-PLAS baseline night.PLAS induced increases in sleep-associated spectral-power bands as well as a 24% increase in slow wave-coupled spindles, known to support memory consolidation. There was no significant group-difference in memory performance or amyloid-beta between the intervention and control group. However, the magnitude of PLAS-induced physiological responses were associated with memory performance up to 3 months post intervention and beneficial changes in plasma amyloid. Results were exclusive to the intervention group.Multi-night PLAS is associated with long-lasting benefits in memory and metabolite clearance in older adults, rendering PLAS a promising tool to build upon and develop long-term protocols for the prevention of cognitive decline.

Keywords

Subject (DDC)

150 - Psychologie

Project

Event

Exhibition start date

Exhibition end date

Conference start date

Conference end date

Date of the last check

9/23/2025

ISBN

1468-2834

ISSN

1468-2834
0002-0729

Language

German

Created during FHNW affiliation

Yes

Strategic action fields FHNW

Future Health

Publication status

Published

Review

Peer review of the complete publication

Open access category

Hybrid

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