Deep Sleep in Older Adults

Starting soon · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic

In brief

This double blind randomized clinical trial on older independent-living healthy individuals with symptoms of insomnia will harness Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and augment it with ambulatory data collection devices, personalized digital content, and smart sound and light cues (CBT-I +Internet of Things \[IoT\]+Artificial Intelligence \[AI\]). With this approach, the investigators aim to overcome many of the limitations that CBT-I in the clinic faces: the investigators can implement it in ambulatory settings while providing increased (remote) accessibility to therapy. The investigators will compare the CBT-I +IoT+AI to active controls that also integrate with smart phone devices, including SleepEZ, which is also based on CBT-I, and sleep hygiene education. These active controls will help determine whether CBT-I +IoT+AI is effective at treating insomnia based on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (primary outcome), sleep metrics (secondary outcome), cognitive performance (secondary outcome), and additional outcomes like therapeutic adherence and other mental health assessments. Participants will be asked to track sleep with wearable and nearable devices, complete surveys, and complete cognitive assessments.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07316153
Run by: Proactive Life Inc
People needed: 180
Starts: 2026-03-01
Expected to finish: 2026-12-30
Last updated by the study team: 2026-01-05

Who can join

Age: 65 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Fluent English speaker and reader.
Capable of providing one's own informed consent.
As determined by validated, abbreviated phone-based remote Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) testing score of ≥18, which is the score that separates Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) from Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD).
Age 65+ years old (inclusive) at enrollment, but if recruitment is slow, the investigators may adjust the criteria to 60+, and if it is still slow, it could go as low as 55+ years old.
As self-reported on screening survey and later verified in video appointment (e.g. Zoom Health)
If residing in a community residence (such as a retirement community) in which a Medical Director designates living status categories, then the participant must be Independent Living status (or equivalent).
a. As self-reported on screening survey
Insomnia Severity Index score ≥15 (i.e., at least "clinical insomnia," that is "moderate-to-severe") - but if recruitment is slow then the investigators will recruit with ISI score ≥11 "mild-to-severe").
a. As self-reported on the ISI screening survey
Willing to refrain from initiating new therapeutic interventions (e.g. medication; behavioral) that are not a part of this study protocol for issues pertaining to sleep for the duration of study participation.
By self-report
Willing to maintain any existing physician-directed pharmacologic intervention for issues pertaining to sleep for the duration of study participation.
a. By self-report
Has a residence with WIFI.
a. By self-report
Normal hearing with or without a hearing aid.
a. By self-report
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early, occurring at least 3 nights/week for 3+months, causing significant daytime distress/impairment (e.g., fatigue, poor focus, mood issues), despite adequate sleep opportunity, and not better explained by another sleep disorder or substance.
By Sleep Condition Indicator [SCI]

You may not qualify if…

Illicit drug use in the past month (except for marijuana because it is legal in many States, and the investigators are recruiting nationwide).
a. As self-reported on screening survey. Marijuana usage will be tracked via self-report and examined as a moderator.
Diagnosed serious mental health disorder.
Specifically, psychosis or bipolar depression, severe major depression, moderate to high risk of suicide, dementia
As self-reported on screening survey
Currently or recent engaged (past 1-year) in evidence-based psychotherapy for Insomnia (e.g., CBTi), in addition to ever receiving a full course of CBTi:
a. By self-report
Cohabitating with a current or previous participant in this study.
a. This criterion is to avoid cross-contamination of study condition awareness, if two cohabitating individuals are randomized into different study arms.
Initiation of any psychological treatment in the last 3-months.
A highly irregular schedule (e.g. shift work) that would prevent adoption of intervention strategies, as evaluated through the Shift Work Disorder Index.
Previous exposure to the SleepSpace software.
Medical conditions that are exacerbated by sleep restriction.
Planned major surgery during the trial.

Where it is running

SleepSpace — New York, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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