Progression trajectories from prodromal to overt synucleinopathies: a longitudinal, multicentric brain [F]FDG-PET study.

The phenoconversion trajectory from idiopathic/isolated Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) towards either Parkinson's Disease (PD) or Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is currently uncertain. We investigated the capability of baseline brain [F]FDG-PET in differentiating between iRBD patients eventually phenoconverting to PD or DLB, by deriving the denovoPDRBD-related pattern (denovoPDRBD-RP) from 32 de novo PD patients; and the denovoDLBRBD-RP from 30 de novo DLB patients, both with evidence of RBD at diagnosis. To explore [F]FDG-PET phenoconversion trajectories prediction power, we applied these two patterns on a group of 115 iRBD patients followed longitudinally.

Exploring the Association Linking Head Position and Sleep Architecture to Motor Impairment in Parkinson's Disease: An Exploratory Study.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) tend to sleep more frequently in the supine position and less often change head and body position during sleep. Besides sleep quality and continuity, head and body positions are crucial for glymphatic system (GS) activity. This pilot study evaluated sleep architecture and head position during each sleep stage in idiopathic PD patients without cognitive impairment, correlating sleep data to patients' motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS).

Brainstem impairment in obstructive sleep apnoea and the effect of CPAP treatment: an electrophysiological blink reflex study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the functionality of the brainstem structures through the blink reflex (BR) test in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and to assess the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on BR responses.

Methods: Patients with moderate-severe OSA and controls underwent BR testing. Patients with OSA who were adherent to CPAP therapy repeated BR testing at 6 months follow-up.

The Sleepiness-Depression Link in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Preliminary Results on the Mediation of Impulsivity.

Background: Emotional impulsivity has been found to be relevant in explaining the association between sleep problems and depressive symptoms, suggesting the potential role of impulsivity as a key underlying mechanism of this link. The objective of this study was to take a preliminary step in understanding the mediating role of impulsivity in the relation between excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and depression in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to compare psychological and demographic characteristics between different levels of daytime sleepiness.

Methods: A total of 138 patients with OSAS underwent polygraphic cardiorespiratory monitoring and completed a series of questionnaires investigating perceived sleepiness, depression, impulsivity, and other psychological characteristics.

A preliminary study investigating the clinical potential of measuring cerebrospinal-fluid lactate levels in patients with narcolepsy type 1 and 2.

Study Objectives: Besides the quantification of orexin-A/hypocretin-1 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels in narcolepsy for diagnostic purposes, several other CSF biomarkers have been evaluated, although with controversial results. Since CSF lactate concentrations fluctuate according to the sleep-wake cycle with higher levels during wakefulness and lower levels during sleep, as documented in animal model studies, the present study aimed at quantifying the CSF lactate levels in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and 2 (NT2), which are two sleep disorders featured by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).

Methods: Patients with NT1 and NT2 were enrolled in this study and compared to a control group of similar age and sex.

Cerebrospinal-fluid biomarkers for predicting phenoconversion in patients with isolated rapid-eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

Study Objectives: Patients with isolated rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) have an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. This study assessed cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) biomarkers of neurodegeneration and blood-brain barrier (BBB) alteration in patients with iRBD compared to controls and ascertain whether these biomarkers may predict phenoconversion to alpha-synucleinopathies (Parkinson's Disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)).

Methods: Patients and controls underwent between 2012 and 2016 a neurological assessment, a lumbar puncture for CSF biomarker analysis (β-amyloid42 - Aβ42; total-tau, and phosphorylated tau), and BBB alteration (CSF/serum albumin ratio).

The effect of lacosamide monotherapy on sleep architecture in patients with epilepsy: a preliminary evidence.

Lacosamide (LCM) is a third-generation antiseizure medication (ASM), and its effect on sleep architecture was supported by a few studies in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy in which LCM was used as an add-on treatment. To gather knowledge on ASMs effects on sleep, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of LCM monotherapy on sleep in patients with focal epilepsy. Ten patients diagnosed with epilepsy (mean age 58.

Sleep-wake cycle and daytime sleepiness in patients with epilepsy after initiating perampanel as adjunctive therapy.

Background: Antiseizure medications (ASMs) may affect nocturnal sleep and daytime vigilance. Perampanel (PER), a third-generation ASM, showed to improve nocturnal sleep in patients with epilepsy (PWE). Although ASMs can have beneficial effects on nocturnal sleep and daytime sleepiness, no study investigated the effect of PER on both sleep-wake cycle and daytime sleepiness.

Derivation and Validation of a Phenoconversion-Related Pattern in Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder.

Background: Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) represents the prodromal stage of α-synucleinopathies. Reliable biomarkers are needed to predict phenoconversion.

Objective: The aim was to derive and validate a brain glucose metabolism pattern related to phenoconversion in iRBD (iRBDconvRP) using spatial covariance analysis (Scaled Subprofile Model and Principal Component Analysis [SSM-PCA]).

Non-motor symptoms burden in motor-fluctuating patients with Parkinson's disease may be alleviated by safinamide: the VALE-SAFI study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor symptoms often experienced in concomitance with non-motor symptoms (NMS), such as depression, apathy, pain, sleep disorders, and urinary dysfunction. The present study aimed to explore the effect of safinamide treatment on NMS and quality of life in motor-fluctuating PD patients. VALE-SAFI is an observational single-centre study performed in fluctuating PD patients starting safinamide treatment and followed for 6 months.

More than sleep and wake disturbances: An actigraphic study showing the sleep-wake pattern dysregulation in epilepsy.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the sleep-wake pattern in patients with epilepsy compared to controls.

Methods: Patients with epilepsy and controls underwent a 14-day actigraphic recording to evaluate the rest-activity cycle. A sleep medicine interview was performed to exclude conditions interfering with the sleep-wake cycle in both patients and controls.

The actigraphic documentation of circadian sleep-wake rhythm dysregulation in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Study Objectives: The present study aimed at identifying the sleep-wake rhythm in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Patients with genetic diagnosis of DM1 and healthy controls underwent a 7-day actigraphic recording and filled out a daily sleep diary to evaluate the sleep-wake rhythm. All participants underwent a physical and neurological examination to exclude conditions interfering with the sleep-wake cycle.

Depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy and clinically associated features in a single tertiary center.

Although depressive symptoms are the most common psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy, they remain underestimated and untreated in a large proportion of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate depression severity and related clinical features in people with epilepsy using a well-reliable self-report index of mood, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). One-hundred seventeen adult patients with epilepsy were recruited from a tertiary epilepsy center and completed the BDI-II.

Assessment of self-reported and objective daytime sleepiness in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Study Objectives: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in myotonic dystrophy type 1 is mostly of central origin but it may coexist with sleep-related breathing disorders. However, there is no consensus on the sleep protocols to be used, assessments vary, and only a minority of patients are regularly tested or are on treatment for EDS. Our study presents data on self-reported and objective EDS in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Sleep problems affect quality of life in Parkinson's disease along disease progression.

Objectives: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) frequently impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Sleep problems represent one of the main NMS complained by PD patients. In this observation study, sleep problems measured by Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale - 2nd version (PDSS-2), and HRQoL measured by Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ39) were quantified in patients with PD ranging from mild to moderate-advanced disease stages, and correlated to motor impairment and anti-PD therapy.

Sleep disorders and late-onset epilepsy of unknown origin: Understanding new trajectories to brain amyloidopathy.

The intertwining between epilepsy, sleep disorders and beta amyloid pathology has been progressively highlighted, as early identification and stratification of patients at high risk of cognitive decline is the need of the hour. Modification of the sleep-wake activity, such as sleep impairment or excessive daytime sleepiness, can critically affect cerebral beta amyloid levels. Both mice models and human studies have demonstrated a substantial increase in the burden of beta amyloid pathology after sleep-deprivation, with potential negative effects partially restored by sleep recovery.

Sleep-wake cycle dysregulation in idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Alteration of the circadian sleep-wake rhythm has been suggested in patients affected by idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. Because actigraphy is the validated instrument to monitor the sleep-wake cycle, the aim of the present study was to investigate the circadian sleep-wake rhythm in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder compared with healthy aged controls. Fourteen-day actigraphic recording, a comprehensive sleep interview, and cognitive and behavioural domains were investigated in patients affected by idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and compared with controls similar for age, sex and cognitive performances.

Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease patients and routine 6-OHDA rodent models: Synergies and pitfalls.

The history of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease (PD) represented a paradigmatic cross-talk between mammalian disease models and clinical evidence in humans. Fascinating were the results achieved by high frequency stimulation (HFS) into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of MPTP-treated primates. An analogous strategy relieved tremor and hypokinetic parameters in PD patients.

Perampanel Increases Cortical EEG Fast Activity in Child and Adult Patients Affected by Epilepsy: A Quantitative EEG Study.

Objective: Quantitative EEG (qEEG) is an established technique used as objective measure for evaluating the effect of antiseizure medications (ASMs) on EEG background activity and monitoring cognitive effects of ASMs. Perampanel (PER) has been associated with relatively more tolerable cognitive effects in patients with epilepsy. The primary aim of the present study was to verify the effect of PER as first add-on ASM on qEEG in child and adult patients affected by epilepsy.

Subjective neurological symptoms frequently occur in patients with SARS-CoV2 infection.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a novel pneumonia leading to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Recent studies documented that SARS-Coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV2), responsible for COVID-19, can affect the nervous system. The aim of the present observational study was to prospectively assess subjective neurological symptoms (sNS) in patients with SARS-CoV2 infection.

Correction to: Sleep dysregulation, memory impairment, and CSF biomarkers during different levels of neurocognitive functioning in Alzheimer's disease course.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.