Z-Drugs for Sleep Disorders in Alzheimer's Disease

Inclusion Criteria

• •55 years of age or older
• •Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) by National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke / the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association Criteria
• •Hachinski Ischemia Scale less than 5
• •Mini-Mental State Examination score of 0 to 26
• •Actigraph evidence of a mean time immobile of less than 7 hours per night based on at least 7 nights of complete actigraph data collected over a single week
• •Four-week history of sleep disorder behaviors, occurring at least once weekly, as reported by the caregiver using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Nighttime Behavior scale
• •Sleep disturbance observed was not present before the diagnosis of AD
• •Other co-morbidities, especially delirium, depression, chronic pain and medication use may be present, but do not cooperate in the primary symptoms
• •Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging since the onset of memory problems showing no more than 1 lacunar infract in a nonstrategic area and no clinical events suggestive of stroke or other intracranial disease or normal
• •Stable medications for 4 weeks prior to the screening visit
• •Having a mobile upper extremity to which to attach an actigraph
• •Residing with a responsible spouse, family member, or professional caregiver who is present during the night and would agree to assume the role of the principle caregiver for the 3-week protocol
• •Ability to ingest oral medication and participate in all scheduled evaluations