Fast Facts
One Partner has Noticed Age-Related Memory Change
One Partner Age 50+
Compensation Provided
Conducted Virtually
No In-Person Visits
Study Background
Researchers at the University of Utah are conducting a study that focuses on how couples’ sleep habits impact each others’ sleep and memory over time.
Done completely remotely (online study visits only, no in-person visits), this study involves assessments at the time of enrollment and again two years later. The assessments involve an online memory test, a week of wearing a watch that measures your sleep activity and answering short text-prompted questionnaires, and one night of an at-home sleep apnea test (just once during the first assessment).
The benefits of participating in this study involve compensation, a free sleep apnea report that you could take to your physician to expedite a diagnosis, and valuable information about your sleep quality and memory.
Study Background
Researchers at the University of Utah are conducting a study that focuses on how couples’ sleep habits impact each others’ sleep and memory over time.
Done completely remotely (online study visits only, no in-person visits), this study involves assessments at the time of enrollment and again two years later. The assessments involve an online memory test, a week of wearing a watch that measures your sleep activity and answering short text-prompted questionnaires, and one night of an at-home sleep apnea test (just once during the first assessment).
The benefits of participating in this study involve compensation, a free sleep apnea report that you could take to your physician to expedite a diagnosis, and valuable information about your sleep quality and memory.
Additional Information
This study is being done to learn more about how partners’ sleep habits might be impacting each others’ memory, particularly in couples where one partner is already displaying signs of age-related memory changes. The results of this study could help inform future behavioral interventions to slow the process of these changes.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- One partner ages 50+
- One partner has noticed age-related memory changes
- Identify as a person of color (POC)
- Have been living together for 1+ years
- Able to meet with study staff online (Zoom or Teams)
- Do not work a night shift work more than 1x per month
- Do not use antipsychotic or anticonvulsant medication
- No unstable or severe medical or psychiatric condition that would interfere with study participation (ie. history of stroke, dementia diagnosis, substance abuse disorder, psychosis, etc.)
All study activities are conducted virtually, no in-person visits.
- Upon enrollment, potential participants will be screened for eligibility over the phone. If they qualify, they will have a short video consent meeting and sign up for their first assessment.
- After that, they will be sent a package with a wrist watch sleep monitor and an at-home sleep apnea test.
- During their first assessment, study staff will explain the use of the devices, and then will conduct in-depth memory tests with each partner over the video call.
- They will then fill out an online survey.
- We will then do brief check-ins every 6 months (a call and a survey) and then have our second assessment 2 years later, which will be the same as the first, but without the sleep apnea test.
Earn up to $460 per person, a total of $920 per couple for completing all visits.
There is no cost for you to participate.
The information posted on this site is consistent with the research reviewed and approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB). However, the IRB has not reviewed all material posted on this site. Contact the IRB if you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant. Also contact the IRB if you have questions, complaint, or concerns which you do not feel you can discuss with the investigator. The University of Utah IRB may be reached by phone at (801) 581-3655 or by e-mail at irb@hsc.utah.edu.
