Keywords

REM sleep behavior disorder, Parkinson’s disease, sleep quality, executive control, cognition, verbal fluency

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with cognitive and sleep impairments. The presence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) symptoms may represent a worse disease prognosis for PD individuals. We investigated cognitive functioning and self-reported sleep in early-stage PD individuals with (n = 19) or without (n = 31) probable RBD. Probable RBD was defined as >5 on the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire. Inhibition, visuospatial cognitive abilities, working memory, sustained visual attention, verbal fluency, and episodic memory were assessed. Sleep impairments were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System questionnaires. Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U, and independent sample t-tests were employed to assess group differences. Participants with PD and probable RBD performed significantly worse on word reading and switching verbal fluency tasks than PD participants without probable RBD (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in mood, PD severity, or sleep measures between PD individuals with or without probable RBD. Cognitive tasks that involve verbal or switching components may be most impaired in PD individuals with probable RBD. Larger samples are needed to determine whether other cognitive domains and sleep features are significantly associated with RBD in PD.

Original Publication Citation

*Trout J, *Christiansen T, *Bulkley MB, Tanner JJ, Sozda CN, Bowers D, Kay DB. Cognitive impairments and self-reported sleep in early-stage Parkinson’s disease with versus without probable REM sleep behavior disorder. Brain Sci. 2019, 10(1), 9. doi: 10.3390/brainsci10010009

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2019-12-21

Permanent URL

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/1/9

Publisher

Brain Sci.

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Psychology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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