Rasagiline, sleep quality and well-being in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study

Sleep disordersand excessive daytime sleepiness are among the commonest nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson disease (PD) and can contribute to significantly lower quality of life in affected patients. Various antiparkinson drugs exert a relevant influence on sleep quality, daily vigilance and well-being. In the latest years, administration of monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor (iMAO-B) medications in PD, especially rasagiline, has gained importance due to the hypothesized neuroprotective effect of these agents. Whereas the 'wakepromoting' effect of selegine, due to its activating amphetamine-like compounds, has been already described, less is known regarding the effect of rasagiline, a world-wide used iMAO-B drug. A pilot study was carried out to analyze the effects of rasagiline on sleep and healthrelated quality of life in a small cohort of PD patients. According to our results, PD patients treated with rasagiline referred better sleep quality, required less frequently hypnotic medication, complained of lower daytime sleepiness and presented higher scores in social functioning, perceived energy levels and emotional well-being. Albeit limited by the small sample size, our study suggests an intriguing role of rasagiline in improving sleep and quality of life in PD patients. Further studies are necessary to confirm our preliminary observations.