Improving the quality of deep sleep in relapsing remitting MS
Over 70% people with MS report sleep problems. Currently, sleep problems in people with MS are poorly treated. The available medications often don’t work very well or can have side effects.
Previous research has shown that quality of sleep can be improved when delivering of soft sounds timed to occur during particular stages of sleep and coordinated with brain wave activity. This is known as ‘timed acoustic stimulation of sleep.
Recently, a device known as SleepLoop® was developed to deliver these soft sounds timed according to brain wave activity. The device can be worn like a headband comfortably at home. It's been tested in older adults and those with Parkinson's disease, but not those with MS.
About the project
The researchers will test if the SleepLoop® device can be comfortably worn by people with MS. They'll also begin to explore if it improves deep sleep quality and may help improve quality of life and reduce common MS symptoms including fatigue and memory problem.
How will it help people with MS?
With information from this study, researchers will be able to design an appropriate, larger study to test if this approach is effective and cost-effective to improve sleep in people with MS.
In the long-run, acoustic stimulation of sleep could become a low risk, non-drug intervention to help people with MS with their sleep.
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