Objective: To characterize the dynamics of oscillatory activity in the globus pallidus internus (GPi) across the sleep-wake cycle in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with externalized deep brain stimulation (DBS) leads.

Background: Excessive beta (β, 13-35 Hz) and high-frequency (HF, 150-350 Hz) oscillations in the GPi are thought to play a role in the development of PD motor signs since suppression of these oscillations occurs with dopaminergic medication or DBS that improves motor signs. A recent preclinical study also implicates pallidal β oscillations contributing to disruptions in sleep. While sleep disturbances are commonly reported in people with PD, the dynamics of β and HF oscillations in the GPi across the sleep-wake cycle and their potential relationship to disordered sleep in patients with PD is unclear.

Method: We simultaneously recorded video-polysomnography and GPi local field potentials (LFPs) from four PD patients with externalized DBS leads. Video-polysomnography included surface electroencephalogram (EEG), chin electromyogram (EMG), and left and right electrooculogram (EOG). Sleep recordings were scored as WAKE, REM, and NREM (N1, N2, and N3) sleep in 30-s epochs. β and HF spectral power from GPi LFPs were extracted during each sleep stage and within-subject comparison was performed to characterize changes in β and HF oscillations across the sleep-wake cycle.

Results: Compared to wake, β and HF power decreased in all subjects during NREM sleep. During REM sleep compared to NREM sleep β and HF power increased in all subjects. Compared to wake, β power decreased during REM sleep in 3 subjects but increased in one subject. Interestingly, this subject (unlike the others) was documented to have REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). HF power during REM sleep compared to wake was variable across subjects (increasing in 2 subjects, decreasing in 1 subject, and no change in 1 subject).

Conclusion: Our results show that β and HF oscillations are modulated distinctly by REM and NREM sleep. Our findings suggest that excessive beta oscillations during REM sleep could be associated with REM sleep dysfunction, however, further studies are required to confirm this finding. These findings can inform the development of GPi-DBS strategies tailored to patients’ sleep-wake cycle, with the long-term goal of developing biomarker-based sleep-specific DBS strategies for improving sleep in people with PD.

References: This abstract was previously presented at Neuroscience 2022.

« Back to 2023 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sleep-wake-dependent-modulation-in-pallidal-beta-and-high-frequency-oscillations-in-parkinsons-disease/