title: Sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's disease are associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms and antidementia treatment.
abstract: Sleep disturbances (SDs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may significantly affect the behavioral, functional, and cognitive capacities of patients to the point of becoming a major determinant of caregiver burden. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 125 patients with probable AD to assess the association of SDs with neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive and functional status of patients, and severity and duration of dementia and to ascertain the role of antidementia drugs in the treatment of SD. SDs were assessed using the questionnaire on sleep disorders in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. The prevalence of SDs in this sample was 36%. SDs in patients with AD are significantly associated with depression (Wald's test, 3.983; p < 0.05), disinhibition (Wald's test, 5.522; p < 0.05), and aberrant motor behavior (Wald's test, 7.430; p < 0.01). The patients treated with memantine presented lower mean SDs scores (t = 2.76; p < 0.001). These results highlight the need for a standardized and validated approach to the assessment of SDs in AD.
authors: Memory and Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Instituto Andaluz de Neurociencia y Conducta, Málaga, Spain. jmgalberca@ianec.com
authors: José María
authors: JM
authors: García-Alberca
authors: José Pablo
authors: JP
authors: Lara
authors: Belén
authors: B
authors: Cruz
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Garrido
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Gris
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Barbancho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents