Who can join?

• Women ages 45–65
• In late peri-menopause or early post-menopause (STRAW criteria)
• Self-reported poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5)
• Fluent in English and able to provide informed consent
• Access to a device for virtual visits (Teams or similar)

Exclusion highlights: pregnancy/lactation, untreated sleep disorders not responsive to behavioral therapy (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea), recent cancer (non-basal cell), active substance use disorder, allergy to tree nuts, recent changes to medications that affect sleep.

What participation involves

1. Screening & Enrollment: phone screen + informed consent and baseline measures at the UTMB Metabolic Health Lab (Galveston).
2. Run-in week: wear an actigraphy device (wrist), complete sleep diary and a 3-day food record, and collect a 24-hour urine sample.
3. Randomization: after run-in, participants are randomized to one of three groups:
   • Pistachios + Multidimensional Sleep Health (MDSH)
   • Pistachios + Health Education Control (HEC)
   • Nutrition Control (potato chips) + HEC
4. 30-day nutrition period: participants receive a 30-day supply of the assigned snack and consume two 1‑oz servings daily (late afternoon and ~1 hour before bedtime).
5. Behavioral session: a single virtual session delivered by the study therapist (based on CBT‑I principles adapted to a sleep health framework).
6. Study visits: in-person Study Visit 1 (baseline measures) and Study Visit 2 (post-intervention measures). Procedures include blood draws (lipids & inflammatory markers), DXA body composition, blood pressure, psychomotor vigilance testing, questionnaires, and repeat actigraphy/urine collections.
7. Follow-up: 7 days of post-assessment actigraphy and sleep diary mailed back to the team.

Time commitment: A few in-person visits (1–2 hours each), one virtual therapist visit, and daily completion of short diaries/records during the run-in and final weeks.

What We’re Measuring

• Sleep quality and multidimensional sleep health (PSQI, RU‑SATED, PROMIS measures)
• Objective sleep and activity via actigraphy
• Circadian-related melatonin release from 24‑hour urine
• Cardiometabolic markers (blood lipids, IL‑6 inflammation)
• Daytime function using psychomotor vigilance testing
• Body composition via DXA

Safety & Privacy

The study follows approved human subjects protections. Risks are minimal and include discomfort from blood draws, minimal radiation exposure from DXA, and possible skin irritation from actigraphy devices. Personal data and study records are kept confidential and stored securely according to UTMB policies.

Compensation

Eligible participants may receive compensation for completing study milestones: screening, Study Visit 1 + therapist visit, Study Visit 2, and return of the post‑assessment actigraphy device and diary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have a diagnosed sleep disorder to join?

No. We are recruiting women with self-reported poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) who may be at risk for chronic insomnia, not necessarily those with a formal insomnia diagnosis.

Will I be assigned to a treatment with medication?

No. There are no prescription medications in this study. The interventions are a short dietary change (snack) and a brief behavioral sleep health session.

What if I’m allergic to nuts?

If you have a tree‑nut allergy you are not eligible to participate. Please let the study team know if you are unsure.

Interested or want more information?

If you are a woman aged 45–65 and are interested in learning more or taking part, please contact the study team: Email: sleepstudy@utmb.edu

Location: UTMB School of Health Professions Metabolic Health Laboratory, Galveston, TX (in-person visits)