Motor symptoms are not the only effects of Parkinson’s disease; many affected individuals experience issues with sleep, among other symptoms. In fact, a panel of experts recently came together to discuss insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and other sleep disturbances that are common to Parkinson’s disease. They did so on a webinar, which was hosted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The experts first tackled the sleep disturbances: insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and REM sleep behavior disorder. They explained what each term means, as well as how it impacts patients. One of the points made was the timing of symptoms; sleep disturbances and other non-motor symptoms often manifest before the characteristic motor symptoms.
Continuing on to the cause of sleep symptoms, the panel noted that other symptoms of Parkinson’s and environmental factors can also bring on or worsen sleep disturbances. Patients also experience frequent urination, anxiety, treatment side effects, and physical discomfort because of their condition, all of which can impact sleep. Beyond just Parkinson’s, alcohol or caffeine use, bedroom temperature, and looking at a screen right before bed can also hurt one’s sleep schedule.
So what do doctors do to fix these sleep disturbances? The answer is sleep hygiene.
Sleep Hygiene
Good sleep hygiene is the key to managing sleep disturbances, whether they stem from Parkinson’s or not. In order to practice good sleep hygiene, doctors recommend avoiding blue light screens after dark, no long naps during the day, and abstaining from alcohol and caffeine late in the day. They also note the importance of a well balanced diet and exercise routine.
As medications can impact sleep, Parkinson’s patients should make sure that they maintain an open channel of communication with their doctors. Discuss how you think the medicine is working, and side effects, and dosage.
Other recommendations to improve sleep hygiene include:
- Light therapy
- Yoga, acupuncture, and other methods to relax the body
- An app called Sleepio
CBD and Sleep Hygiene
Many people have heard about cannabis, specifically CBD, and its potential to help people sleep; however, doctors want to remind their patients that there is minimal research into this topic. In addition, there are minimal guidelines for CBD. This means that every patient needs to try it out and see what works for them.
While medical professionals are unsure about CBD, they advise that Parkinson’s patients stay away from THC. This is because they are often already taking psychoactive medications, such as levodopa. Adding THC to the mix could lead to confusion and hallucinations.
Melatonin is another possible tool for people looking to regulate their sleep patterns, but like CBD there is minimal research. Benzodiazepines have also been used for sleep regulation.
Sleeping with Parkinson’s
There are methods one can use to improve their sleep that do not involve medication of any sort, one of which is pillow forts. As Parkinson’s patients tend to move around a lot while they sleep, creating a barrier with pillows can stop them from moving around too much. This method is very helpful if a patient shares a bed with someone, as it stops them from moving around and hitting their partner.
If you share a bed with someone who has Parkinson’s, it can be be confusing or even frightening to watch them have an episode while asleep. To combat this problem, doctors advise you to wake up somebody with Parkinson’s if you think they are having an episode that will cause physical harm to you or themselves. However, if this is not the case, it is best to let them sleep.
Looking Forward
Medical professionals are conducting research to investigate the manifestation of sleep disorders in those with Parkinson’s. One example is the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).
Hopefully research efforts are successful, as improving sleep is very important for Parkinson’s patients and those around them. Not only will they feel more rested, but a healthy amount of sleep can help with other Parkinson’s symptoms as well.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by its effect on movement through five different stages. As the disease progresses, severity increases.
- Stage one is characterized by subtle tremors on one side of the body.
- In stage two symptoms are more noticeable, with tremors and rigidity on both sides of the body.
- Stage three brings loss of balance and slowed movement.
- Stage four makes it impossible for one to live independently.
- Stage five is the most severe, as patients cannot stand or walk. Hallucinations and delusions are common symptoms of this stage.
Parkinson’s disease occurs due to the death of motor neurons, some of which produce dopamine. Dopamine is important in the transmittance of messages to the muscles from the brain, so the loss of dopamine results in the loss of motor functions. Abnormal brain activity occurs when these neurons are lost. Doctors do not know why these motor neurons die, but they do suspect a few factors that play a role, such as genetics, environmental factors like toxins, and Lewy bodies.
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