Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
The Genetic Landscape of Sleep Disorders in Parkinson's Disease
Kallirhoe Kalinderi1, Vasileios Papaliagkas2, Liana Fidani1
1Laboratory of Medical Biology-Genetics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Abstract:
Parknson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 1% of people aged over 60. PD is characterized by a wide range of motor symptoms, however the clinical spectrum of PD covers a wide range of non-motor symptoms, as well. Sleep disorders are among the most common non-motor symptoms of PD, can occur at any stage of the disease and significantly affect quality of life. These include rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), restless legs syndrome (RLS), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and circadian rhythm disturbances. One of the main challenges in PD research is identifying individuals during the prodromal phase of the disease. Combining genetic and prodromal data may aid the early identification of individuals susceptible to PD. This review highlights current data regarding the genetic component of sleep disorders in PD patients, focusing on genes that have currently been associated with this PD co-morbidity.
Related Concept Videos
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Neural Regulation
Narcolepsy
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

