Clinical neuropharmacology of sleep.
Sleep affects, and is in turn affected by, cardiovascular, thermal, respiratory, endocrine, circadian, and sensory processes. Integrative areas of the basal forebrain play a crucial role, as does interaction with cholinergic and aminergic areas of the brain stem. AD, which affects a wide range of structures and functions, alters sleep in a manner distinguishable from depressive pseudodementia and may involve changes in autonomic function. Sleep apnea occurs with a high incidence in patients with AD, and the possibility should be explored that treating sleep apnea might be beneficial to their cognitive and affective status. Long-acting hypnotics can adversely affect daytime functioning. This might occur because of either direct effects on structures mediating sleep and cognition or, alternatively, exacerbation of sleep-related respiratory dysfunction. Studies of the benzodiazepine receptor complex may lead to the development of new drugs to aid sleep and wakefulness.
Mendelson
W B
WB
State University of New York, Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook.
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011530:Protriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D011530:Protriptyline