A comparison of sleep profiles in patients with dementia with lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Sleep disturbances are common in healthy old age and in dementia syndromes. Polysomnography has demonstrated typical changes in both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with AD being characterised by sundowning and sleep apnoea and DLB patients showing more disturbances of movement control during sleep. The technical difficulties associated with EEG sleep recordings mean that polysomnography is not possible out of specialist centres.


OBJECTIVE
To use questionnaires to assess the frequency of sleep disturbances in patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.


METHODS
The sleep profiles of twenty patients with AD and 17 with DLB were assessed using three questionnaires, one designed to assess night time sleep disturbance, one day time sleepiness and the last carer burden. The sleep questionnaires were repeated in a subgroup after treatment with a cholinesterase inhibitor (rivastigmine).


RESULTS
Level of sleep disturbance in both groups was high. DLB patients had more overall sleep disturbance, more movement disorders whilst asleep and more abnormal day time sleepiness. Treatment with rivastigmine produced a trend towards normalisation of sleep profile in a small number of subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Both groups have extensive sleep problems. The DLB and AD groups have different sleep profiles that are of diagnostic importance and may suggest different treatment strategies. The results are consistent with those found from polysomnographic assessment and suggest that the questionnaires used are sensitive to detect differences previously documented with polysomnography.
Grace
J B
JB
Lecturer in Psychiatry, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Wolfson Research Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. j.b.grace@newcastle.ac.uk
Walker
M P
MP
McKeith
I G
IG
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D002219:Carbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D017286:Polysomnography; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine