Sleep and Alzheimer's disease
Laure Peter-Derex1, Pierre Yammine2, Hélène Bastuji3
1Service de Neurologie-sommeil, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 165 Chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69310 Pierre-Benite, France; Intégration centrale de la douleur chez l'homme, Centre de recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U 1028, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
Sleep Medicine Reviews
|May 22, 2014
Summary
Sleep disorders are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD), impacting patients and caregivers. Behavioral interventions and treatments like melatonin show promise for managing these sleep issues.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Sleep disorders are prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD), significantly affecting patients and caregivers.
- These sleep disturbances are linked to increased institutionalization risk and worsening cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the main sleep disorders observed in Alzheimer's disease patients.
- To discuss the reciprocal relationship between cognitive decline and sleep alterations.
- To outline management strategies for sleep disorders in AD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of experimental and epidemiological evidence.
- Analysis of common sleep alterations in AD patients, including micro-architectural changes, fragmentation, and altered sleep-wake cycles.
Main Results:
- Observed sleep disorders include nocturnal fragmentation, reduced duration, daytime napping, and inverted sleep-wake cycles.
- Growing evidence supports a bidirectional interaction between cognitive impairment and sleep disturbances in AD.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disorder management in AD primarily involves behavioral approaches.
- Melatonin and bright light therapy present promising treatment options.
- Sleep complaints in AD patients warrant investigation for co-existing conditions like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
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