Objective: The aim of this study was clarified the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and sleep disorders in Parkinson’s disease(PD).

Background: In PD, cognitive decline increases more frequently as the disease progresses.In recent years, sleep and cognitive function have been reported in various diseases, so we decided to examine the relationship between sleep disorders and cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease, which is frequently complicated by sleep disorders.

Method: The subjects were 20 patients with PD (10 males and 10 females, mean age 68.7±6.76 years) who underwent multiple all-night electroencephalography and intelligence tests (WAIS-III) during our hospital visits. PD was diagnosed based on clinical feature, RI results such as DAT and MIBG scintigram, MRI findings, and good response to levodopa preparations. The average H-Y severity at the time of examination was 3.03±0.47 years and the mean duration of the disease was 14.2 years. The interval between tests was 2 years or more, and statistical processing (non-parametric test) was performed on the test results.

Results: The results of sleep electroencephalography EEG showed impairment of sleep construction, and only light sleep in stages 1-2 were observed in 13 patients. Light sleep with sleep fragmentation was revealed in three patients. Deep sleep was observed only in seven people. REM sleep was observed in 12 people, and REM sleep with atonia (RWA) was observed in 3 of the 12 patients. In relation to cognitive function and sleep analysis, the average IQ of subjects with light sleep alone was 95.2±14.2 for the first study and 89.1±17.5 for the second study (P<0.05).The average IQ of subjects who observed deep sleep was 100.4±13.4 for the first time and 98.0±13.2 for the second time (P=0.345). The average IQ of subjects who observed REM sleep was 96.8±15.6 for the first time and 93.1±18.6 for the second time (P=0.230). The average IQ without REM sleep was 97±11.8 for the first time and 90.9±13.0 for the second time (P=0.122).

Conclusion: There was a significant decrease in IQ in PD patients who had only light sleep without deep sleep. Among the group with deep sleep, cognitive function tended to decline more in the group without REM than in the group with REM, but no significant difference was obtained. Therefore, we were able to show that maintaining sleep construction and REM sleep are important for maintaining cognitive function in PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/does-sleep-disorder-affect-cognitive-impairment-in-parkinsons-disease/