Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cognition and the Sleep–Wake Cycle in Parkinson’s Disease

  • Chapter
Disorders of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have received increasing attention in the past decade, particularly cognitive and sleep dysfunctions. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests an association between sleep and cognition in aging. This chapter outlines the role of sleep in the maintenance of cognition and learning and the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in PD. We then summarize the evidence for and against associations between rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), insomnia, sleep quality, sleep architecture abnormalities, and cognitive impairment in PD. Three major sleep outcomes, RBD, EDS, and reduced sleep spindles, are correlated to cognitive impairment in PD, whereas insomnia, sleep quality, and SDB show modest or no correlation. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine the role of RBD, EDS, and sleep spindle abnormalities as potential markers of cognitive decline in PD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Litvan I, Goldman JG, Tröster AI, Schmand BA, Weintraub D, Petersen RC, et al. Diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: Movement Disorder Society Task Force guidelines. Mov Disord. 2012;27:349–56.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dubois B, Burn D, Goetz C, Aarsland D, Brown RG, Broe GA, et al. Diagnostic procedures for Parkinson’s disease dementia: recommendations from the movement disorder society task force. Mov Disord. 2007;22:2314–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pedersen KF, Larsen JP, Tysnes OB, Alves G. Prognosis of mild cognitive impairment in early Parkinson disease: the Norwegian ParkWest study. JAMA Neurol. 2013;70:580–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D, Dubois B, Feldman HH, Fox NC, et al. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2011;7:270–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Svenningsson P, Westman E, Ballard C, Aarsland D. Cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease: diagnosis, biomarkers, and treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2012;11:697–707.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rasch B, Born J. About sleep’s role in memory. Physiol Rev. 2013;93:681–766.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cirelli C. Sleep and synaptic changes. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2013;23:841–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Stickgold R, Walker MP. Sleep-dependent memory triage: evolving generalization through selective processing. Nat Neurosci. 2013;16:139–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gagnon JF, Petit D, Latreille V, Montplaisir J. Neurobiology of sleep disturbances in neurodegenerative disorders. Curr Pharm Des. 2008;14:3430–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Naismith SL, Lewis SJ, Rogers NL. Sleep-wake changes and cognition in neurodegenerative disease. Prog Brain Res. 2011;190:21–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fogel S, Martin N, Lafortune M, Barakat M, Debas K, Laventure S, et al. NREM sleep oscillations and brain plasticity in aging. Front Neurol. 2012;3:176. doi:10.3389/fneur.2012.00176.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Harand C, Bertran F, Doidy F, Guénolé F, Desgranges B, Eustache F, et al. How aging affects sleep-dependent memory consolidation? Front Neurol. 2012;3:8. doi:10.3389/fneur.2012.00008.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Zimmerman ME, Aloia MS. Sleep-disordered breathing and cognition in older adults. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012;12:537–46.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sforza E, Roche F. Sleep apnea syndrome and cognition. Front Neurol. 2012;3:87. doi:10.3389/fneur.2012.00087.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Yaffe K, Laffan AM, Harrison SL, Redline S, Spira AP, Ensrud KE, et al. Sleep- disordered breathing, hypoxia, and risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older women. JAMA. 2011;306:613–9.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gagnon JF, Bertrand JA, Génier MD. Cognition in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Front Neurol. 2012;3:82. doi:10.3389/fneur.2012.00082.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Iranzo A, Tolosa E, Gelpi E, Molinuevo JL, Valldeoriola F, Serradell M, et al. Neurodegenerative disease status and post-mortem pathology in idiopathic rapid- eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder: an observational cohort study. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12:443–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Blackwell T, Yaffe K, Ancoli-Israel S, Redline S, Ensrud KE, Stefanick ML, et al. Association of sleep characteristics and cognition in older community-dwelling men: the MrOS sleep study. Sleep. 2011;34:1347–56.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Jaussent I, Bouyer J, Ancelin ML, Berr C, Foubert-Samier A, Ritchie K, et al. Excessive sleepiness is predictive of cognitive decline in the elderly. Sleep. 2012;35:1201–7.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Potvin O, Lorrain D, Forget H, Dubé M, Grenier S, Préville M, et al. Sleep quality and 1-year incident cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults. Sleep. 2012;35:491–9.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Keage HA, Banks S, Yang KL, Morgan K, Brayne C, Matthews FE. What sleep characteristics predict cognitive decline in the elderly? Sleep Med. 2012;13:886–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Gagnon JF, Bédard MA, Fantini ML, Petit D, Panisset M, Rompré S, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder and REM sleep without atonia in Parkinson’s disease. Neurology. 2002;59:585–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sixel-Döring F, Trautmann E, Mollenhauer B, Trenkwalder C. Associated factors for REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson disease. Neurology. 2011;77:1048–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Boeve BF, Silber MH, Saper CB, Ferman TJ, Dickson DW, Parisi JE, et al. Pathophysiology of REM sleep behaviour disorder and relevance to neurodegenerative disease. Brain. 2007;130:2770–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sinforiani E, Zangaglia R, Manni R, Cristina S, Marchioni E, Nappi G, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder, hallucinations, and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2006;21:462–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sinforiani E, Pacchetti C, Zangaglia R, Pasotti C, Manni R, Nappi G. REM behavior disorder, hallucinations and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: a two-year follow up. Mov Disord. 2008;23:1441–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Vendette M, Gagnon JF, Décary A, Massicotte-Marquez J, Postuma RB, Doyon J, Panisset M, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder predicts cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease without dementia. Neurology. 2007;69:1843–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Postuma RB, Desjardins C, Massicotte-Marquez J, Panisset M, et al. Mild cognitive impairment in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Ann Neurol. 2009;66:39–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Marques A, Dujardin K, Boucart M, Pins D, Delliaux M, Defebvre L, et al. REM sleep behaviour disorder and visuoperceptive dysfunction: a disorder of the ventral visual stream? J Neurol. 2010;257:383–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Naismith SL, Terpening Z, Shine JM, Lewis SJ. Neuropsychological functioning in Parkinson’s disease: differential relationships with self-reported sleep-wake disturbances. Mov Disord. 2011;26:1537–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang G, Wan Y, Wang Y, Xiao Q, Liu J, Ma JF, et al. Visual hallucinations and associated factors in Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease: roles of RBD and visual pathway deficit. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2010;16:695–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Erro R, Santangelo G, Picillo M, Vitale C, Amboni M, Longo K, et al. Link between non-motor symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions in de novo, drug-naive PD patients. J Neurol. 2012;259:1808–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Benninger D, Waldvogel D, Bassetti CL. REM sleep behavior disorder predicts cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease without dementia. Neurology. 2008;71:955; author reply 955–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Lavault S, Leu-Semenescu S. Tezenas du Montcel S, Cochen de Cock V, Vidailhet M, Arnulf I. Does clinical rapid eye movement behavior disorder predict worse outcomes in Parkinson’s disease? J Neurol. 2010;257:1154–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Yoritaka A, Ohizumi H, Tanaka S, Hattori N. Parkinson’s disease with and without REM sleep behaviour disorder: are there any clinical differences? Eur Neurol. 2009;61:164–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lee JE, Kim KS, Shin HW, Sohn YH. Factors related to clinically probable REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2010;16:105–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Goldman JG, Ghode RA, Ouyang B, Bernard B, Goetz CG, Stebbins GT. Dissociations among daytime sleepiness, nighttime sleep, and cognitive status in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2013;19:806–11.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bugalho P, da Silva JA, Neto B. Clinical features associated with REM sleep behavior disorder symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol. 2011;258:50–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Plomhause L, Dujardin K, Duhamel A, Delliaux M, Derambure P, Defebvre L, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in treatment-naive Parkinson disease patients. Sleep Med. 2013;14:1035–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Sixel-Döring F, Ellen Trautmann E, Mollenhauer B, Trenkwalder C. REM sleep behavioral events (RBE): a new marker for neurodegeneration in early Parkinson’s disease? Sleep. 2014;37:431–8.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Aarsland D, Kurz MW. The epidemiology of dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease. Brain Pathol. 2010;20:633–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Marion MH, Qurashi M, Marshall G, Foster O. Is REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) a risk factor of dementia in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease? J Neurol. 2008;255:192–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Postuma RB, Bertrand JA, Montplaisir J, Desjardins C, Vendette M, Rios Romenets S, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and risk of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: a prospective study. Mov Disord. 2012;27:720–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Nomura T, Inoue Y, Kagimura T, Nakashima K. Clinical significance of REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson’s disease. Sleep Med. 2013;14:131–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Videnovic A, Marlin C, Alibiglou L, Planetta PJ, Vaillancourt DE, Mackinnon CD. Increased REM sleep without atonia in Parkinson disease with freezing of gait. Neurology. 2013;81:1030–5.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Postuma RB, Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Montplaisir JY. Markers of neurodegeneration in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Brain. 2009;132:3298–307.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Lanfranchi P, Blais H, Rompré S, Colombo R, et al. Cardiac autonomic denervation in Parkinson’s disease is linked to REM sleep behavior disorder. Mov Disord. 2011;26:1529–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Romenets SR, Gagnon JF, Latreille V, Panniset M, Chouinard S, Montplaisir J, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and subtypes of Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2012;27:996–1003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Bliwise DL, Trotti LM, Greer SA, Juncos JJ, Rye DB. Phasic muscle activity in sleep and clinical features of Parkinson disease. Ann Neurol. 2010;68:353–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Manni R, Terzaghi M, Ratti PL, Repetto A, Zangaglia R, Pacchetti C. Hallucinations and REM sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson’s disease: dream imagery intrusions and other hypotheses. Conscious Cogn. 2011;20:1021–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Gagnon JF, Fantini ML, Bédard MA, Petit D, Carrier J, Rompré S, et al. Association between waking EEG slowing and REM sleep behavior disorder in PD without dementia. Neurology. 2004;62:401–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Gaudreault PO, Gagnon JF, Montplaisir J, Vendette M, Postuma RB, Gagnon K, et al. Abnormal occipital event-related potentials in Parkinson’s disease with concomitant REM sleep behavior disorder. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2013;19:212–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Kotagal V, Albin RL, Müller ML, Koeppe RA, Chervin RD, Frey KA, et al. Symptoms of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder are associated with cholinergic denervation in Parkinson disease. Ann Neurol. 2012;71:560–8.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Ford AH, Duncan GW, Firbank MJ, Yarnall AJ, Khoo TK, Burn DJ, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson’s disease: magnetic resonance imaging study. Mov Disord. 2013;28:832–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. da Silva-Júnior FP, do Prado GF, Barbosa ER, Tufik S, Togeiro SM. Sleep disordered breathing in Parkinson’s disease: a critical appraisal. Sleep Med Rev. 2014;18:173–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Cochen De Cock V, Abouda M, Leu S, Oudiette D, Roze E, Vidailhet M, et al. Is obstructive sleep apnea a problem in Parkinson’s disease? Sleep Med. 2010;11:247–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Villeneuve S, Rodrigues-Brazète J, Joncas S, Postuma RB, Latreille V, Gagnon JF. Validity of the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale to detect mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease and REM sleep behavior disorder. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2011;31:210–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Béland SG, Postuma RB, Latreille V, Bertrand JA, Desjardins C, Panisset M, Chouinard S, Gagnon JF. What is the clinical significance of apnea in PD? Mov Disord. 2013;28 Suppl 1:S228.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Tandberg E, Larsen JP, Karlsen K. Excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep benefit in Parkinson’s disease: a community-based study. Mov Disord. 1999;14:922–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Kurtis MM, Rodriguez-Blazquez C, Martinez-Martin P, ELEP Group. Relationship between sleep disorders and other non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2013;19:1152–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Arnulf I, Konofal E, Merino-Andreu M, Houeto JL, Mesnage V, Welter ML, et al. Parkinson’s disease and sleepiness: an integral part of PD. Neurology. 2002;58:1019–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Shpirer I, Miniovitz A, Klein C, Goldstein R, Prokhorov T, Theitler J, et al. Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a polysomnography study. Mov Disord. 2006;21:1432–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Boddy F, Rowan EN, Lett D, O’Brien JT, McKeith IG, Burn DJ. Subjectively reported sleep quality and excessive daytime somnolence in Parkinson’s disease with and without dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;22:529–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Gjerstad MD, Aarsland D, Larsen JP. Development of daytime somnolence over time in Parkinson’s disease. Neurology. 2002;58:1544–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Gjerstad MD, Alves G, Wentzel-Larsen T, Aarsland D, Larsen JP. Excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson disease: is it the drugs or the disease? Neurology. 2006;67:853–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Compta Y, Santamaria J, Ratti L, Tolosa E, Iranzo A, Muñoz E, et al. Cerebrospinal hypocretin, daytime sleepiness and sleep architecture in Parkinson’s disease dementia. Brain. 2009;132:3308–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Diab S, Latreille V, Brayet P, Postuma RB, Bertrand JA, Desjardins C, et al. Nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment. Mov Disord. 2013;28 Suppl 1:S193.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Kato S, Watanabe H, Senda J, Hirayama M, Ito M, Atsuta N, et al. Widespread cortical and subcortical brain atrophy in Parkinson’s disease with excessive daytime sleepiness. J Neurol. 2012;259:318–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Lee WJ, Tsai CF, Gauthier S, Wang SJ, Fuh JL. The association between cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia. Int Psychogeriatr. 2012;24:1980–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Gjerstad MD, Wentzel-Larsen T, Aarsland D, Larsen JP. Insomnia in Parkinson’s disease: frequency and progression over time. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007;78:476–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Stavitsky K, Neargarder S, Bogdanova Y, McNamara P, Cronin-Golomb A. The impact of sleep quality on cognitive functioning in Parkinson’s disease. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2012;18:108–17.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Latreille V, Carrier J, Lafortune M, Postuma RB, Bertrand JA, Panisset M, Chouinard S, Gagnon JF. Sleep spindles in Parkinson’s disease may predict the development of dementia. Neurobiol Aging. 2015;36:1083–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Scullin MK, Trotti LM, Wilson AG, Greer SA, Bliwise DL. Nocturnal sleep enhances working memory training in Parkinson’s disease but not Lewy body dementia. Brain. 2012;135:2789–97.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Jean-Francois Gagnon PhD & Gabrielle Lyonnais-Lafond BSc candidate

  2. Centre d’Études Avancées en Médecine du Sommeil, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, 5400 boul. Gouin Ouest, Montreal, QC, H4J 1C5, Canada

    Jean-Francois Gagnon PhD, Ronald B. Postuma MD, MSc & Gabrielle Lyonnais-Lafond BSc candidate

  3. Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Ronald B. Postuma MD, MSc

Authors
  1. Jean-Francois Gagnon PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronald B. Postuma MD, MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gabrielle Lyonnais-Lafond BSc candidate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Francois Gagnon PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Aleksandar Videnovic

  2. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Birgit Högl

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Wien

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gagnon, JF., Postuma, R.B., Lyonnais-Lafond, G. (2015). Cognition and the Sleep–Wake Cycle in Parkinson’s Disease. In: Videnovic, A., Högl, B. (eds) Disorders of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Parkinson's Disease. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1631-9_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1631-9_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-1630-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-1631-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation