Eagle Butte

Researchers are studying obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its connection to cognitive changes, including Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, in American Indian elders aged 50 years and older. This project involves 300 American Indian participants from Northern Plains Reservations who have a confirmed OSA diagnosis and are prescribed positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. The study aims to test a culturally informed intervention to improve PAP use and explore how OSA affects cognitive function. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving usual care with PAP therapy alone, and the other receiving usual care plus a motivational interviewing (MI) and electronic messaging program called CATNAP MI. The MI sessions, led by trained staff, focus on educating participants about OSA, sleep health, and increasing PAP use, while personalized electronic messages support adherence. This intervention lasts 9 months and is designed to be culturally relevant for American Indian elders. Throughout the study, participants' PAP use is automatically uploaded to the cloud for monitoring. Researchers will measure PAP adherence, including minutes and nights of use, at the start, 3 months, and 9 months. They will also assess cognitive function to understand the impact of improved PAP adherence. The study partners with local organizations to support data collection and participant follow-up over the 9-month period.