Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Frequency and risk factors of sleep problems in Egyptian patients with multiple sclerosis
Eman M Khedr1,2, Gellan K Ahmed1, Shady Safwat Hassan1
1Neurology and Psychiatry Department, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Background:
Sleep problems impact over 65% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a prevalence significantly greater than that observed in the general population. This study aimed to assess the frequency and risk-associated factors of sleep problems in a large MS cohort and evaluate their impact on quality of life (QoL).
Methods:
The study included 103 participants with MS across different disease stages and 62 healthy controls. Assessment tools included the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), depression and fatigue scales, 9-Hole Peg Test, 25-foot walk test, cognitive function assessments, and QoL measures.
Results:
Sleep problems were significantly more frequent in MS patients (68.9%) than in controls (30.6%). PSQI scores showed positive correlations with the number of MS relapses across the course of disease duration, walking impairment, fatigue and depression scores. Sleep problems were determined to adversely affect various domains of quality of life.
Conclusion:
Our findings demonstrate that sleep problems are remarkably common among patients with MS. Patients experiencing poor sleep quality are typically associated with higher levels of fatigue, depression, greater difficulty with mobility, and more frequent disease relapses. These sleep problems significantly impaired the overall QoL in MS patients. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore essential for managing sleep disorders in MS.
Related Concept Videos
Narcolepsy
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...

