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Sleep and comorbid neurologic disorders.
Nathaniel F Watson1, Mari Viola-Saltzman
1Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine Sleep Center, 325 Ninth Ave, Box 359803, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. nwatson@uw.edu
Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.)
|February 7, 2013
Summary
Neurologists can improve patient outcomes by screening for sleep disorders, which are linked to conditions like stroke, headache, and neurodegenerative diseases. Addressing sleep issues offers new treatment avenues for better quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding the bidirectional relationship between sleep and neurologic disorders is crucial for patient care.
- Neurologic conditions significantly impact sleep patterns and quality.
- Sleep disturbances can exacerbate symptoms and progression of neurological diseases.
Observation:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease, including TIA and stroke.
- Sleep disorders can worsen headache disorders and are sometimes sleep-specific (e.g., hypnic headache).
- REM sleep behavior disorder may indicate early neurodegeneration.
- Brain lesions (e.g., MS, CNS malignancies) can cause sleep disturbances and insomnia.
- Sleep-related hypoventilation and fatigue are prevalent in neuromuscular diseases.
- Sleep-disordered breathing and epilepsy have a mutually facilitatory relationship, with poor sleep worsening epilepsy.
Findings:
- Sleep disorders are prevalent in patients with various neurologic conditions.
- Specific sleep disorders are associated with increased risk or exacerbation of neurologic diseases.
- Early identification of sleep disorders can lead to timely interventions.
Implications:
- Neurologists should actively surveil for sleep disorders in their patients.
- Treating sleep disorders can open new therapeutic avenues for neurologic conditions.
- Improved sleep management can enhance patient quality of life and clinical outcomes in neurology.
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