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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
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A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
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Circadian Activity Rhythm in Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Lorenzo Tonetti1, Federico Camilli2, Sara Giovagnoli1
1Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 19, 2019
Summary
Early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients exhibit altered circadian activity rhythms, with a notable peak in motor activity occurring earlier than in healthy individuals. This finding may offer new prognostic markers for disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is the most common form of MS, yet prognostic markers for symptom worsening remain unclear.
- Circadian rhythmicity, particularly activity patterns, has emerged as a potential factor in neurological disorders.
- The two-process model of sleep regulation provides a framework for understanding circadian influences on physiological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in circadian activity rhythms in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
- To determine if functional linear modeling can identify specific changes in daily activity patterns.
- To explore the potential of circadian rhythm analysis as a prognostic tool in MS.
Main Methods:
- Functional linear modeling was applied to analyze actigraphy data.
- Thirty-five early RRMS patients and 35 healthy controls wore wrist actigraphs for one week.
- Motor activity peaks and timing were compared between patient and control groups.
Main Results:
- RRMS patients demonstrated a significantly earlier peak in motor activity (around 5:00 a.m.) compared to healthy controls.
- This altered rhythm suggests a potential disruption in the body's internal clock in early MS.
- The findings align with previous reports of a hyperactive HPA axis and elevated cortisol awakening response in MS patients.
Conclusions:
- Circadian activity rhythm analysis reveals distinct alterations in early RRMS patients.
- An earlier motor activity peak may serve as a potential biomarker for MS, possibly linked to neuroendocrine changes.
- Further research into circadian dysregulation could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for multiple sclerosis.
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