Abnormal daytime sleepiness in dementia with Lewy bodies compared to Alzheimer's disease using the Multiple Sleep Latency Test.

Introduction: Excessive daytime sleepiness is a commonly reported problem in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We examined the relationship between nighttime sleep continuity and the propensity to fall asleep during the day in clinically probable DLB compared to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia.

Methods: A full-night polysomnography was carried out in 61 participants with DLB and 26 with AD dementia.

Validation of the Mayo Sleep Questionnaire to screen for REM sleep behavior disorder in a community-based sample.

Objective: To validate a questionnaire focused on REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in a community-based sample.

Background: RBD is a parasomnia manifested by recurrent dream enactment behavior during REM sleep. While confirmation of RBD requires the presence of REM sleep without atonia on polysomnography (PSG), a screening measure for RBD validated in older adults would be desirable for clinical and research purposes.

Analysis of the C9orf72 repeat in Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and restless legs syndrome.

The hexanucleotide expanded repeat (GGGGCC) in intron 1 of the C9orf72 gene is recognized as the most common genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, as part of the clinical phenotype, some patients present with parkinsonism. The present study investigated the potential expansion or association of the C9orf72 repeat length with susceptibility to Parkinson's disease and related disorders, essential tremor and restless legs syndrome.

Genome-wide association study identifies novel restless legs syndrome susceptibility loci on 2p14 and 16q12.1.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder with an age-dependent prevalence of up to 10% in the general population above 65 years of age. Affected individuals suffer from uncomfortable sensations and an urge to move in the lower limbs that occurs mainly in resting situations during the evening or at night. Moving the legs or walking leads to an improvement of symptoms.

Anatomy of disturbed sleep in pallido-ponto-nigral degeneration.

Objective: Pallido-ponto-nigral degeneration (PPND), caused by an N279K mutation of the MAPT gene, is 1 of a family of disorders collectively referred to as frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17. This study aims to characterize the nature of the sleep disturbance in PPND and compare these findings to those in other progressive neurological illnesses. Pathological findings are also provided.

Validation of the Mayo Sleep Questionnaire to screen for REM sleep behavior disorder in an aging and dementia cohort.

Objective: To validate a questionnaire focused on rapid eye movement sleep (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) among participants in an aging and dementia cohort.

Background: RBD is a parasomnia that can develop in otherwise neurologically-normal adults as well as in those with a neurodegenerative disease. Confirmation of RBD requires polysomnography (PSG).

Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in blood donors.

Iron deficiency anemia has been linked to restless legs syndrome (RLS) and regular blood donation may lead to iron deficiency. It has been reported that blood donations may be associated with RLS. A recent study from Sweden found that 25% of the women donors were affected by RLS.

Clinical and genetic description of a family with a high prevalence of autosomal dominant restless legs syndrome.

Objective: To conduct clinical and molecular genetic analyses of the members of an extended family in Central Indiana with a high prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Participants And Methods: From February 1, 2006, through August 31, 2008, we collected data from members of this family, which is of English descent. Genealogical methods were used to expand the family tree, and family members were screened with an RLS questionnaire.

Clinical-pathologic study of biomarkers in FTDP-17 (PPND family with N279K tau mutation).

The objective of this clinical-pathologic study was to identify biomarkers for a pallidopontonigral degeneration (PPND) kindred of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) harboring the N279K tau mutation. Five affected subjects, one at-risk who later became symptomatic, and one at-risk asymptomatic mutation carrier, had abnormal (18)fluorodeoxyglucose PET demonstrating asymmetric temporal lobe hypometabolism. All except the asymptomatic mutation carrier had abnormal brain MRI.

Prevalence of restless legs syndrome among native South Americans residing in coastal and mountainous areas.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in native South Americans and identify the impact of geographic location.

Participants And Methods: An epidemiological telephone survey of RLS symptoms involving natives from coastal and mountainous areas was performed during July 2, 2004, through September 28, 2004. The process consisted of 2 phases: the creation of the epidemiological instrument and the telephone survey.

Absence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in 11 members of the pallidopontonigral degeneration kindred.

Background: Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia that is manifested by dream enactment behavior. The electrophysiologic substrate for RBD on polysomnography is rapid eye movement sleep without atonia. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder likely stems from neuronal network dysfunction in the brainstem, although it is not yet clear which specific networks are involved.

Genetics of restless legs syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder, although under-diagnosed, with a prevalence of up to 15% depending on the population sampled. Familial aggregation has been widely shown since Ekbom formerly described the condition in 1960; twin studies support a genetic contribution in the development of this disorder. Molecular genetic approaches have identified three genomic regions in RLS susceptibility, however no specific mutations have yet been identified.

Neurobiologic basis of nicotine addiction and psychostimulant abuse: a role for neurotensin?

Addiction to psychostimulant drugs such as nicotine, amphetamine, and cocaine is a serious public health problem for which there is a paucity of accepted forms of pharmacotherapy. Nicotine dependence has become more frequently associated with psychiatric illness in recent decades, and patients who have schizophrenia are at highest risk and have the poorest prognosis for stopping their addiction. Possible mechanisms for this association include self-medication, with nicotine attenuating attentional deficits and negative symptoms.

Pupillometry in clinically sleepy patients.

Objectives: Investigators have suggested using pupillometry to assess alertness in hypersomnolent patients. In this study we assessed hypersomnolent patients and normal volunteers by using pupillometry and examined the usefulness of this technique for the diagnosis of pathologic sleepiness in individual patients.

Methods: Forty-nine patients were examined by pupillometry and their sleepiness was assessed by using the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT).

Sleep patterns of cyclic parenteral nutrition, a pilot study: are there sleepless nights?

Background: Cyclic home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is 1 of the few medical therapies given during normal nocturnal sleep hours, and it is possible that infusion may alter normal sleep patterns. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the sleep patterns of 5 patients receiving HPN.

Methods: An Epworth sleep questionnaire was completed and wrist Actigraph data were collected before admission to the sleep laboratory.