Pharmacological interventions for improving sleep in people with dementia
Award Number
13/71/01Programme
Technology Assessment ReviewsStatus / Stage
CompletedDates
2 October 2013 -13 January 2014
Duration (calculated)
00 years 03 monthsFunder(s)
NIHRFunding Amount
£35,000.00Funder/Grant study page
NIHRContracted Centre
University of LiverpoolPrincipal Investigator
Professor Rumona DicksonPI Contact
R.Dickson@liverpool.ac.ukWHO Catergories
Development of novel therapiesDisease Type
Dementia (Unspecified)CPEC Review Info
| Reference ID | 66 |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Reside Team |
| Published | 12/06/2023 |
Data
| Award Number | 13/71/01 |
|---|---|
| Status / Stage | Completed |
| Start Date | 20131002 |
| End Date | 20140113 |
| Duration (calculated) | 00 years 03 months |
| Funder/Grant study page | NIHR |
| Contracted Centre | University of Liverpool |
| Funding Amount | £35,000.00 |
Abstract
Any pharmacological interventions for managing sleep disturbance in people with dementia. 2. Patient group: Adults diagnosed with any type of dementia suffering from sleep disturbance exact inclusion criteria to be defined by applicants. Consideration should be given to the different types and severity of dementia, to the possible causes of the sleep disturbance, to the concurrent use of non-pharmacological interventions for improving sleep, and to the use of other prescription drugs. 3. Setting: Any. 4. Control or comparator treatment: Placebo or another appropriate control/comparator. 5. Study design: A short report incorporating a systematic review of the best available evidence. Results for different dementia types should be reported separately, as should results for different groups of pharmacological intervention. 6. Important outcomes: Clinical effectiveness; dementia specific health related quality of life; adverse effects; carer burden; objective measures of sleep quality. Other outcomes: Changes in other behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia such as wandering and agitation; functioning; well-being; research recommendations.
Plain English Summary
Sleep disturbance is a core clinical feature of dementia. If untreated sleep problems can worsen quality of life and functional decline, increase the risk of falls, cause significant carer distress and result in earlier care home placement. The most common sleep disorder symptoms include sleep fragmentation, night-time wandering, and increased daytime sleepiness. Pharmacological interventions that are used for treating sleep disturbance in people with dementia include benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, sedating antidepressants and melatonin. These drugs may have been assessed in the general elderly population and may have some effect on sleep but are also associated with a considerable number of side effects. The evidence of effect in people with dementia, however, appears to be very limited for all pharmacological treatments. A broad evidence synthesis is needed that builds on and extends previous reviews to include all dementia subtypes, not just Alzheimer’s disease. It is hoped that the evidence synthesis will enable a front runner to be identified amongst the pharmacological agents on the basis of effectiveness and adverse effect profile to inform future trials.