UCSF Brain Aging Network for Cognitive Health

In order to learn more about how sleep quality and duration relate to cognition and brain aging, you may be asked to consider participating in a sleep study. This study uses 3 pieces of equipment to monitor your sleep from the comfort of your home. 

1) Actigraph: Similar in size to a wristwatch, the Actigraph measures patterns of rest and activity during the day and night. 

2) Sleep Profiler: A lightweight wireless device you wear like a headband while sleeping. The Sleep Profiler provides real-time monitoring of sleep quality and stages. 

3) ApneaLink: A compact, lightweight device that measures oxygen levels, pulse, breathing rate and body positioning while sleeping. This device is worn for one night and can detect sleep apnea. 

The brain protein beta-amyloid is a key molecule in Alzheimer's-related MCI and dementia; beta-amyloid protein can clump together to form plaques in the brain, a hallmark of the disease.  Despite this, beta-amyloid accumulation does not always result in MCI or dementia, and these plaques are also found in a significant proportion of older people with normal memory and thinking. The PET scan uses compounds (called tracers) that are injected into a vein, travel through the bloodstream and attach to beta-amyloid in the brain, allowing them to be seen by a PET scanner. 

A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is a procedure in which a small amount of the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord is removed by inserting a needle between the L4/L5 vertebrae of the lower back.

• A physician will first inject a local anesthetic (lidocaine) under the skin to numb the area. She/he will then insert a thin needle into the space that contains the CSF. This is well below the level where the spinal cord ends, so there is no risk to damage of the cord. 
• About 2 tablespoons of CSF will be collected in a vial over 20 to 30 minutes. The body will replace this amount of CSF in about 2-3 hours.
• We will ask you to lie down for 30-60 minutes after the procedure in order to minimize your risk of headache post-procedure.  

The Alzheimer's Society has a short video that explains the procedure and also show a lumbar puncture being performed. To view this video, click the following link: Lumbar puncture video 

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) and OCTA (OCT Angiography) retinal scans. These are non-invasive imaging tests that allow researchers to look at layers of the retina and blood vessels in the eye. Investigators may ask to dilate your eyes before the scan, though this step is not always necessary. 

In addition to being valuable for our research, OCT scans can help detect early stages of certain retinal diseases and other eye problems, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.