The Healthy Patterns Sleep Study

Inclusion criteria for care receiver (CR):

• be over age 60
• English speaking
• be able to tolerate wrist actigraphy (wear a watch on their wrist for a month)
• diagnosed with dementia using standard assessments and diagnostic criteria
• has CG reporting the presence of CRD symptoms
• If the CR is on any of four classes of psychotropic medications (antidepressant, benzodiazepines, antipsychotic, or anti-convulsant) or an anti-dementia medication (memantine or a cholinesterase inhibitor), we will require that the CR have been on a stable dose for 90 days prior to enrollment (typical time frame in clinical trials) to minimize possible confounding effects of concomitant medications

Inclusion criteria for caregiver (CG):

• CG is at least 18 years old
• CG lives close to the participant
• CG is planning to live in the area for at least 6 months
• If CG is on a psychotropic medication, CG must be on a stable dose for at least 60 days

Exclusion criteria for CR:

• deemed to be in a crisis/unsafe situation at baseline
• reported planned transition to another residential or care setting in less than 6 months
• at end-stage disease (defined as bed-bound and noncommunicative, or on hospice at baseline)
• currently enrolled in an interventional clinical trial for dementia or associated symptoms
• regular use of medications with substantial known effects on the measurement of HPA activity (e.g. corticosteroids, interferons, beta-blockers, cytotoxic chemotherapy)
• major surgery in the past 3 months
• history of major psychiatric and/or personality disorder
• history of heavy cigarette smoking (e.g. than 50 pack years)
• loss of a loved one in the past 3 months
• conditions known to affect measurement of circadian rhythm such as use of sedatives/ hypnotics, Huntington's disease, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Parkinson's disease, advanced heart failure (New York Heart Stage 3-4), morbid obesity (BMI 35)