Sleep disorder

About: Sleep disorder is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 19380 publications have been published within this topic receiving 884281 citations. The topic is also known as: somnipathy & non-organic sleep disorder.

Neuropsychological assessment in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) Does the idiopathic form of RBD really exist

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the cognitive performance of patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Methods: The authors studied 17 consecutive patients with idiopathic RBD vs 17 age- and education-matched control subjects. Tests given to each patient and control included Mini-Mental State Examination, verbal and spatial short-term memory, visual selective attention, verbal fluency, prose memory, visuoconstructional abilities, spatial learning, and executive function tests. A self-administered depression rating scale was also used. Results: RBD patients had significantly lower scores than control subjects in two tests: copy of Rey–Osterrieth Figure and Corsi Supraspan Learning. No correlation was found between the results of neuropsychological tests and RBD duration or with polysomnographic findings. Conclusions: Visuospatial constructional dysfunction and altered visuospatial learning may be present in idiopathic RBD. A neuropsychological assessment may be indicated in RBD patients.

Associations between disturbed sleep and behavioural difficulties in 635 children aged six to eight years: a study based on parents' perceptions

Abstract: Associations between sleep and behaviour in 635 children, aged six to eight years, were investigated using parental responses to a sleep habits questionnaire, and to a behavioural screening form, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Global reports of sleep problems in 4.9% of the children were associated with a total SDQ score indicative of behaviour problems in 36% of the cases. Conversely, 15% of children with behaviour problems had global reports of sleep problems. Associations between specific sleeping features and different dimensions of behaviour and emotions were also explored. Hyperactivity was associated with tossing and turning during sleep, and with sleep walking; conduct problems were related to bedtime resistance; and emotional symptoms were associated with night terrors, difficulty falling asleep and daytime somnolence. Peer problems were associated with somewhat shorter total sleep time. Finally, a total SDQ score indicative of behaviour problems was associated with bedwetting, nightmares, tossing and turning during sleep and sleep walking, as well as with a slightly shorter total sleep time. We conclude that sleep and behaviour problems are associated in children, and that characteristic associations exist between particular sleep disturbances and specific dimensions of behaviour.

Effects of Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Polysomnographic and Subjective Sleep Quality in Older Adults With Mild to Moderate Sleep Complaints

Abstract: Background. This study sought to determine the 12-month effects of exercise increases on objective and subjective sleep quality in initially inactive older persons with mild to moderate sleep complaints. Methods. A nonclinical sample of underactive adults 55 years old or older (n ¼ 66) with mild to moderate chronic sleep complaints were randomly assigned to a 12-month program of primarily moderate-intensity endurance exercise (n ¼ 36) or a health education control program (n ¼ 30). The main outcome measure was polysomnographic sleep recordings, with additional measures of subjective sleep quality, physical activity, and physical fitness. Directional hypotheses were tested. Results. Using intent-to-treat methods, at 12 months exercisers, relative to controls, spent significantly less time in polysomnographically measured Stage 1 sleep (between-arm difference ¼ 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7‐4.0; p ¼ .003), spent more time in Stage 2 sleep (between-arm difference ¼ 3.2, 95% CI, 0.6‐5.7; p ¼ .04), and had fewer awakenings during the first third of the sleep period (between-arm difference ¼ 1.0, 95% CI, 0.39‐1.55; p ¼ .03). Exercisers also reported greater 12-month improvements relative to controls in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) sleep disturbance subscale score (p ¼ .009), sleep diary‐based minutes to fall asleep (p ¼ .01), and feeling more rested in the morning (p ¼ .02). Conclusions. Compared with general health education, a 12-month moderate-intensity exercise program that met current physical activity recommendations for older adults improved some objective and subjective dimensions of sleep to a modest degree. The results suggest additional areas for investigation in this understudied area.