Corrigendum: Case report: A patient with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia treated with tasimelteon: a case study

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1287514.].

Case report: A patient with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia treated with tasimelteon: a case study

We present a case of an adult female diagnosed with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD) and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH), with a confirmed delayed Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO), who reports the inability to fall asleep at their desired bedtime and obtain adequate sleep nightly, despite the ability to have a full night's sleep when not required to be up at a specific time for societal requirements. The participant was enrolled in an 11-month Open-Label Extension (OLE) following the randomized portion of a clinical study and was successfully treated with tasimelteon. DSWPD symptoms were resolved, and their previously delayed sleep-wake cycle was advanced.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04652882, identifier NCT04652882.

July 14th 2016 Nice Terrorist Attack Court Trial: A Protocol on Sleep Quality and Somatic Symptoms as Markers of Risk for Traumatic Reactivation in Adolescents Exposed to This Attack

The court trial of the 14th of July 2016 terrorist attack in Nice (France) opened in September 2022 and ended in December 2022. Engaging in court proceedings, whether as a victim or a witness, can lead to a significant risk of traumatic reactivation (i.e., the re-emergence of post-traumatic stress symptoms). The present protocol aimed to improve knowledge of the pathophysiology of traumatic reactivation due to the media coverage of the trial by assessing sleep disturbances and somatic symptoms that could reappear if there is a traumatic reactivation. Method and Analysis: This is a monocentric longitudinal study, with recruitment solely planned at the Nice Pediatric Psychotrauma Center (NPPC). We intended to include 100 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who were directly or indirectly exposed to the attack and included in the "14-7" program). Assessments began one month before the trial, in August 2022, and were scheduled once a month until the end of the trial. A smartwatch recorded sleep activity. Somatic and PTSD symptoms and sleep were assessed through validated questionnaires. The main analyses comprised the variance and regression analyses of predictors of clinical evolution over time. Ethics and Dissemination: The National Ethics Committee "NORD OUEST III" approved the "14-7" program protocol (number 2017-A02212-51). The specific amendment for this research was approved in April 2022 by the same national ethical committee. Inclusions started in August 2022.

Sleep medicine provider perceptions and attitudes regarding consumer sleep technology

STUDY OBJECTIVES

This study assessed perceptions and attitudes of sleep medicine providers regarding consumer sleep technology (CST).

METHODS

A convenience sample of n = 176 practicing sleep medicine and behavioral sleep medicine experts was obtained using social media and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine directory. Providers completed a questionnaire that assessed perceptions and attitudes about patient use of CST in the clinical setting.

RESULTS

The sample included both adult and pediatric psychologists, physicians, and advanced practice providers from a variety of health settings. Providers reported 36% (3%-95%) of patients used CST, and the most common devices seen by providers were wrist-worn devices followed by smartphone apps. The most common perceived patient motivations for frequent use were to measure sleep and self-discovery. Across sleep disorders, clinicians did not endorse frequent CST use; the highest reported use was for assisting patients in the completion of sleep diaries. Overall devices were rated as somewhat accurate and neutral regarding helpfulness. In qualitative responses, providers associated CST use with increased patient engagement but increased orthosomnia and misperceptions about sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

CST is frequently encountered in the sleep medicine clinic, and providers view CST as somewhat accurate but neither helpful nor unhelpful in clinical practice. Although providers viewed these devices as useful to drive patient engagement/awareness and track sleep patterns, providers also viewed them as a contributor to orthosomnia and misperceptions about sleep.

CITATION

Addison C, Grandner MA, Baron KG. Sleep medicine provider perceptions and attitudes regarding consumer sleep technology. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(8):1457-1463.

Pediatric sleep: current knowledge, gaps, and opportunities for the future

This White Paper addresses the current gaps in knowledge, as well as opportunities for future studies in pediatric sleep. The Sleep Research Society's Pipeline Development Committee assembled a panel of experts tasked to provide information to those interested in learning more about the field of pediatric sleep, including trainees. We cover the scope of pediatric sleep, including epidemiological studies and the development of sleep and circadian rhythms in early childhood and adolescence. Additionally, we discuss current knowledge of insufficient sleep and circadian disruption, addressing the neuropsychological impact (affective functioning) and cardiometabolic consequences. A significant portion of this White Paper explores pediatric sleep disorders (including circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia, restless leg and periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea), as well as sleep and neurodevelopment disorders (e.g. autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Finally, we end with a discussion on sleep and public health policy. Although we have made strides in our knowledge of pediatric sleep, it is imperative that we address the gaps to the best of our knowledge and the pitfalls of our methodologies. For example, more work needs to be done to assess pediatric sleep using objective methodologies (i.e. actigraphy and polysomnography), to explore sleep disparities, to improve accessibility to evidence-based treatments, and to identify potential risks and protective markers of disorders in children. Expanding trainee exposure to pediatric sleep and elucidating future directions for study will significantly improve the future of the field.

Objective Diagnosis of Circadian Rhythm Disorders

SUMMARY

Circadian sleep-wake disorders are common. Because they represent conflict between the timing of the patient's endogenous rhythms and desired timing of sleep, the presenting complaints may include both difficulty of sleep initiation or maintenance and undesired or unplanned daytime or early evening sleepiness. Therefore, circadian disorders may be misdiagnosed as either a primary insomnia or a hypersomnia disorder, depending on which complaint is more troublesome for the patient. Objective information about sleep and wake patterns over long periods is crucial for accurate diagnosis. Actigraphy provides long-term information about the rest/activity pattern about an individual. However, caution should be applied in interpretation of the results because the information provided only includes information of movements, and activity is only an indirect circadian phase marker. Timing of light and melatonin therapy is critical for successful treatment of circadian rhythm disorders. Therefore, results of actigraphy are useful and should be used in conjunction with additional measurements, including 24 hours sleep-wake history, sleep log, and melatonin measurements.

Application and trend of bioluminescence imaging in metabolic syndrome research

Bioluminescence imaging is a non-invasive technology used to visualize physiological processes in animals and is useful for studying the dynamics of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a broad spectrum of diseases which are rapidly increasing in prevalence, and is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and circadian rhythm disorder. To better serve metabolic syndrome research, researchers have established a variety of animal models expressing luciferase, while also committing to finding more suitable luciferase promoters and developing more efficient luciferase-luciferin systems. In this review, we systematically summarize the applications of different models for bioluminescence imaging in the study of metabolic syndrome.

Delayed circadian rhythms in older Africans living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

The increasing number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, (PLWH) have an elevated incidence of risk for noncommunicable comorbidities, the aetiology of which remains incompletely understood. While sleep disturbances are often reported in PLWH, it is unknown to what extent they relate to changes in the circadian and/or sleep homeostatic processes. We studied the relationship between sleep characteristics, circadian phase, and HIV status in older adults from the HAALSI (Health and Ageing in Africa: a Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa) subsample of the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System in South Africa (n = 187, 36 human immunodeficiency virus positive [HIV+], age: 66.7 ± 11.5 years, range 45-93 years), where HIV prevalence is high and (in contrast to the global north) does not associate significantly with potentially confounding behavioural differences. In participants with valid actigraphy data (n = 172), regression analyses adjusted for age and sex indicated that HIV+ participants had slightly later sleep onset (β = .16, p = .039), earlier sleep offset times (β = -.16, p = .049) and shorter total sleep times (β = -.20, p = .009) compared to the HIV negative (HIV-) participants. In a subset of participants (n = 51, 11 HIV+), we observed a later dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) in HIV+ (21:16 ± 01:47) than in HIV- (20:06 ± 00:58) participants (p = .006). This substantial difference remained when adjusted for age and sex (β = 1.21; p = .006). In 36 participants (6 HIV+) with DLMO and actigraphy data, median phase angle of entrainment was -6 min in the HIV+ group and +1 h 25 min in the HIV- group. DLMO time correlated with sleep offset (ρ = 0.47, p = .005) but not sleep onset (ρ = -0.086, p = .623). Collectively, our data suggest that the sleep phase occurred earlier than what would be biologically optimal among the HIV+ participants. This is the first report of a mistimed circadian phase in PLWH, which has important potential implications for their health and well-being, especially given the well-established relationships between circadian asynchrony and sleep deprivation with poorer health outcomes.

Changes in Circadian Variations in Blood Pressure, Pain Pressure Threshold and the Elasticity of Tissue after a Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Treatment in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Tripled-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

This study analysed circadian variation changes in blood pressure (BP), the pain pressure threshold (PPT) and the elasticity of tissue in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) after a whole-body photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment. This was a tripled-blinded randomized clinical trial including forty participants with FM. Participants using validated self-measurement BP devices attained readings that were used to calculate the circadian variation. Additionally, a standard pressure algometer of 1cm2 was used to assess 13 tender points by exerting a pressure of up to 4 kg, and strain elastography assessed the elasticity of tissue. Circadian variations in BP showed significant differences after the PBM intervention (p = 0.036). When comparing PPT between groups, statistically significant differences were found in the occiput (p = 0.039), low cervical (p = 0.035), trapezius (p = 0.037), second rib (p < 0.001) and medial epicondyle points (p = 0.006). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in both the trapezius and the forearm at the distal dorsal third SEL values (p ≤ 0.001) when comparing groups. Whole-body PBM produces changes in circadian blood pressure, the pain pressure threshold and the elasticity of tissue after a treatment program was carried out. However, more studies are needed to corroborate our findings as well as to better understand the underlying mechanisms.

Central disorders of hypersomnolence: diagnostic discrepancies between military and civilian sleep centers

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The majority of active-duty service members obtain insufficient sleep, which can influence diagnostic evaluations for sleep disorders, including disorders of hypersomnolence. An incorrect diagnosis of hypersomnia may be career ending for military service or lead to inappropriate medical care. This study was conducted to assess the rates at which narcolepsy (Nc) and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) are diagnosed by military vs civilian sleep disorders centers.

METHODS

This retrospective study utilized claims data from the Military Health System Data Repository. The analyses compared diagnostic rates of military personnel by provider type-either civilian provider or military provider-from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. Three diagnostic categories for Nc and IH: Nc or IH, Nc only, and IH only, were assessed with multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

We found that among service members evaluated for a sleep disorder, the odds ratios of a positive diagnosis at a civilian facility vs a military facility for Nc or IH was 2.1, for Nc only was 2.1, and IH only was 2.0 over the 4-year period.

CONCLUSIONS

Civilian sleep specialists were twice as likely to diagnose central disorders of hypersomnolence compared to military specialists. Raising awareness about this discrepancy is critical given the occupational and patient care-related implications of misdiagnoses.

CITATION

Thomas CL, Vattikuti S, Shaha D, et al. Central disorders of hypersomnolence: diagnostic discrepancies between military and civilian sleep centers. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(10):2433-2441.

Circadian Variation of Blood Pressure in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of circadian variation of blood pressure (BP) in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CPM). A further purpose was to study differences in circadian variation of BP between genders and the correlation between BP circadian variation and pain. We performed a cross-sectional, observational study in which seventy-five participants with CMP participated. Circadian variation in BP was calculated using the diurnal/nocturnal BP ratio, and all participants used validated self-measurement BP devices. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to assess pain perception. All circadian BP values from participants who suffered from CPM followed pathologic cardiovascular parameters (BP ratio < 10%). When comparing BP ratios between genders, statistically significant differences were found (p = 0.011). BP itself did not correlate with pain in any subgroup. Circadian variations of BP in those suffering from CMP are shown and new possibilities of research and treatment are proposed.

Exogenous melatonin decreases circadian misalignment and body weight among early types

Shift workers experience chronic circadian misalignment, which can manifest itself in reduced melatonin production, and has been associated with metabolic disorders. In addition, chronotype modulates the effect of night shift work, with early types presenting greater circadian misalignment when working night shift as compared to late types. Melatonin supplementation has shown positive results reducing weight gain in animal models, but the effect of exogenous melatonin in humans on body weight in the context of shift work remains inconsistent. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin on circadian misalignment and body weight among overweight night shift workers, according to chronotype, under real-life conditions. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial where melatonin (3 mg) or placebo was administered on non-night shift nights for 12 weeks in 27 female nurses (37.1 yo, ±5.9 yo; BMI 29.9 kg/m2 , ±3.3 kg/m2 ). Melatonin (or placebo) was only taken on nights when the participants did not work night shifts, that is, on nights when they slept (between night shifts and on days off). Composite Phase Deviations (CPD) of actigraphy-based mid-sleep timing were calculated to measure circadian misalignment. The analyses were performed for the whole group and by chronotype. We found approximately 20% reduction in circadian misalignment after exogenous melatonin administration considering all chronotypes. Moreover, melatonin supplementation in those who presented high circadian misalignment, as observed in early chronotypes, reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference, without any change in the participants' calorie intake or physical activity levels.

Prevalencia de problemas de sueño en mujeres climatéricas colombianas durante la pandemia COVID-19

Objective

To make an approximation to the prevalence of sleep disorders in Colombian menopausal women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional study as part of the Quality of Life in Menopause and Colombian Ethnic Groups research project [CAVIMEC+COVID STUDY]. The population consisted of women born and residing in Colombia, 40 to 59 years of age, who signed an informed consent and agreed to participate by completing an online form, freely and anonymously, in the first five days of June 2020. Sleep disorders were identified using the third item on the Menopause Rating Scale. Sociodemographic characteristics, presence and severity of sleep disorders and menopause status were explored. Descriptive statistics are provided.

Results

Overall, 984 women aged 47.0 [IQR: 42.0-53.5] years were included: 84.5% mestizo, 13.7% Afro-Colombian, 1.7% indigenous; 39.3% were postmenopausal; 70% lived in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Sleep disorders were reported by 637 women (64.7%), and 112 (11.3%) had severe sleep disorders. Among postmenopausal women, 65.1% reported sleep disorders with 10.1% reporting severe disorders, while 64.5% of premenopausal reported sleep disorders, and 12.2% severe disorders.

Conclusions

Sleep disorders could be a frequent problem among premenopausal as well as postmenopausal women in the pandemic time. This issue should be explored during gynecological visits in order to offer solutions. Population studies that confirm these observations are required.

Effects of circadian rhythm disorder on body composition in women aged 31-40 years

BACKGROUND

Circadian rhythm disorder caused by lack of sleep, day-night reversal, or staying up late, can cause irreparable damage to the body, a significant increase in both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of women in this age bracket. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of circadian disruption on body composition and insulin resistance in women aged 31-40 years.

METHODS

Thirty female with circadian rhythm disorder and employed of the Foot Bath Club in Qufu city were selected as the research subjects, and a body composition analyzer was used to test the subjects' body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Serum melatonin (MT) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and blood glucose and insulin levels were detected by glucose oxidase and chemiluminescence assays, respectively.

RESULTS

The results showed that circadian rhythm disorder caused a rise in blood pressure, whereas body water, especially lower limb water and intra- and extracellular fluid, decreased significantly. Circadian disruption also resulted in decreased muscle mass, protein quality, and melatonin production, but increased visceral fat levels and insulin resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated that circadian rhythm disorders are responsible for changes in body composition, melatonin levels, and insulin resistance in women aged 31-40 years and may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

British Association for Psychopharmacology consensus statement on evidence-based treatment of insomnia, parasomnias and circadian rhythm disorders: An update

This British Association for Psychopharmacology guideline replaces the original version published in 2010, and contains updated information and recommendations. A consensus meeting was held in London in October 2017 attended by recognised experts and advocates in the field. They were asked to provide a review of the literature and identification of the standard of evidence in their area, with an emphasis on meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials where available, plus updates on current clinical practice. Each presentation was followed by discussion, aiming to reach consensus where the evidence and/or clinical experience was considered adequate, or otherwise to flag the area as a direction for future research. A draft of the proceedings was circulated to all speakers for comments, which were incorporated into the final statement.

Social jetlag, sleep-related parameters, and glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: Results of a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Social jetlag (SJL) is a small recurrent circadian rhythm disruption and the most frequent form of circadian rhythm misalignment. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SJL on glycemic control, as assessed by HbA1c, in real-life settings.

METHODS

In all, 115 consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Data on bedtime, sleep onset latency, and wake up time on weekdays and weekends during the previous month were collected from all participants and used to calculate SJL, chronotype, and sleep duration. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A PSQI score > 5 was considered as an indicator of poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

Patients with SJL ≥ 1 hour had significantly higher adjusted values of HbA1c than those with SJL <1 hour (8.7% vs 8.0%; P = 0.029). In unadjusted multivariate regression analysis, SJL ≥ 1 hour and poor sleep quality were significant predictors of HbA1c values, explaining 22.7% and 23.5%, respectively, of the increase in HbA1c. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, insulin dose (kg/d), insulin regimen and body mass index, only SJL ≥ 1 hour remained associated with HbA1c (β = 0.253; P = 0.026). There was no significant interaction between SJL ≥ 1 hour and poor sleep quality in either the unadjusted or adjusted models (P_interaction  = 0.914).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with T1D, SJL is associated with poor glycemic control, acting independently of sleep quality, sleep duration, and chronotype to exert a deleterious effect on glycemic control.

Habitual light exposure relative to circadian timing in delayed sleep-wake phase disorder

Study Objectives

To compare melatonin timing, a well-validated marker for endogenous circadian phase, and habitual light-exposure patterns in adults with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) and intermediate chronotype controls.

Methods

Twelve individuals with DSWPD (five females, mean age: 31.1) and 12 age-matched controls (six females, mean age: 33.6) underwent a minimum of 7 days of light and activity monitoring followed by an inpatient hospital stay, where blood was taken to assess melatonin timing (calculated as dim light melatonin onset-DLMO). Habitual light-exposure patterns were then compared with a human phase-response curve (PRC) to light.

Results

Relative to clock time, individuals with DSWPD had a later light-exposure pattern compared with controls, but their light-exposure pattern was earlier relative to DLMO. According to the human PRC to light, individuals with DSWPD had less daily advancing light exposure compared with controls. The primary difference was seen in the late portion of the advancing window, in which individuals with DSWPD were exposed to fewer pulses of light of equivalent duration and intensity compared with controls.

Conclusions

Diminished advancing light exposure may play a role in the development and perpetuation of delayed sleep-wake timing in individuals with DSWPD. Enhancing light exposure during the later portion of the advancing window represents an innovative and complementary strategy that has the potential to improve the effectiveness of bright light therapy in DSWPD.

Changes in Accident & Emergency Visits and Return Visits in Relation to the Enforcement of Daylight Saving Time and Photoperiod

Daylight saving time (DST) is a source of circadian disruption impinging on millions of people every year. Our aim was to assess modifications, if any, in the number, type, and outcome of Accident & Emergency (A&E) visits/return visits over the DST months. The study included 366,527 visits and 84,380 return visits to the A&E of Padova hospital (Northern Italy) over 3 periods between the years 2007 and 2016: period 1 (2 weeks prior to DST to 19 weeks after), period 2 (2 weeks prior to the return to "winter time" to 4 weeks after), and period 3 (5 consecutive non-DST weeks). For each A&E visit/return visit, information was obtained on triage severity code, main medical complaint, and outcome. Data were aggregated by day, cumulated over the years, and analyzed by generalized Poisson models. Generalized additive models for Poisson data were then used to include photoperiod as an additional covariate. An increase in A&E visits and return visits (mostly white codes, resulting in discharges) was observed a few weeks after the enforcement of DST and was significant over most weeks of period 1 (increase of ≈30 [2.8%] visits and ≈25 [10%] return visits per week per year). After the return to winter time, a decrease in absolute number of return visits was observed (mostly white codes, resulting in discharges), which was significant at weeks 3 and 4 of period 2 (decrease of ≅25 [10%] return visits per week per year). When photoperiod was taken into account, changes in A&E visits (and related white codes/discharges) were no longer significant, while changes in return visits (and related white codes/discharges) were still significant. In conclusion, changes in A&E visits/return visits were observed in relation to both DST and photoperiod, which are worthy of further study and could lead to modifications in A&E organization/staffing.

People-Centered Language Recommendations for Sleep Research Communication

The growing embrace of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) in sleep medicine is a significant step forward for the field. In engaging and incorporating the unique perspectives of people with sleep disorders, PCOR enhances the relevance of findings and facilitates the uptake of research into practice. While centering research design around what matters most to people with sleep disorders is critical, research communication must be similarly people-centered. One approach is using "people-centered language" in both professional and public communications. People-centered language is rooted in sociolinguistic research demonstrating that language both reflects and shapes attitudes. People-centered language puts people first, is precise and neutral, and respects autonomy. By adhering to the language guidelines described in this article, sleep researchers will better serve the field's most important stakeholders.

SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHM DISORDERS IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Purpose of review

Sleep disorders are among the most challenging non-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and significantly affect quality of life. Research in this field has gained recent interest among clinicians and scientists and is rapidly evolving. This review is dedicated to sleep and circadian dysfunction associated with PD.

Recent findings

Most primary sleep disorders may co-exist with PD; majority of these disorders have unique features when expressed in the PD population.

Summary

We discuss the specific considerations related to the common sleep problems in Parkinson's disease including insomnia, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome, sleep disordered breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness and circadian rhythm disorders. Within each of these sleep disorders, we present updated definitions, epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, clinical implications and management. Furthermore, areas of potential interest for further research are outlined.

MT1 and MT2 Melatonin Receptors: A Therapeutic Perspective

Melatonin, or 5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine, is synthesized and released by the pineal gland and locally in the retina following a circadian rhythm, with low levels during the day and elevated levels at night. Melatonin activates two high-affinity G protein-coupled receptors, termed MT1 and MT2, to exert beneficial actions in sleep and circadian abnormality, mood disorders, learning and memory, neuroprotection, drug abuse, and cancer. Progress in understanding the role of melatonin receptors in the modulation of sleep and circadian rhythms has led to the discovery of a novel class of melatonin agonists for treating insomnia, circadian rhythms, mood disorders, and cancer. This review describes the pharmacological properties of a slow-release melatonin preparation (i.e., Circadin®) and synthetic ligands (i.e., agomelatine, ramelteon, tasimelteon), with emphasis on identifying specific therapeutic effects mediated through MT1 and MT2 receptor activation. Discovery of selective ligands targeting the MT1 or the MT2 melatonin receptors may promote the development of novel and more efficacious therapeutic agents.

Detecting the effect of Alzheimer's disease on everyday motion behavior

BACKGROUND

Early detection of behavioral changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) would help the design and implementation of specific interventions.

OBJECTIVE

The target of our investigation was to establish a correlation between diagnosis and unconstrained motion behavior in subjects without major clinical behavior impairments.

METHOD

We studied everyday motion behavior in 23 dyads with one partner suffering from AD dementia and one cognitively healthy partner in the subjects' home, employing ankle-mounted three-axes accelerometric sensors. We determined frequency features obtained from the signal envelopes computed by an envelope detector for the carrier band 0.5 Hz to 5 Hz. Based on these features, we employed quadratic discriminant analysis for building models discriminating between AD patients and healthy controls.

RESULTS

After leave-one-out cross-validation, the classification accuracy of motion features reached 91% and was superior to the classification accuracy based on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Motion features were significantly correlated with MMSE and CMAI scores.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that changes of everyday behavior are detectable in accelerometric behavior protocols even in the absence of major clinical behavioral impairments in AD.

Adults with ADHD-without insomnia history have subclinical sleep disturbance but not circadian delay: an ADHD phenotype?

OBJECTIVE

To explore the potential ADHD phenotype of ADHD-without reported insomnia in comparison with controls and their tolerance of stimulants in a cohort rigorously screened for comorbidities.

METHOD

Adults meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR) criteria for ADHD-without insomnia and matched controls were administered a sleep/medication-timing questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

Among 105 participants, ADHD participants scored in the mild insomnia range and showed reduced sleep quality compared with controls, F(3, 101) = 34.9, p < .05, but no delay in bedtime/mid-sleep-time circadian measures. Sleep quality was similar between stimulant, nonstimulant, and unmedicated groups, χ(2) 2 = 0.445, p = .80. However, later timing of stimulant dosing was correlated with later sleep times, p < .01.

CONCLUSION

We isolated a potential phenotype of ADHD-without circadian delay in adults who demonstrated insomnia/sleep quality disturbance by sleep instrument, but lacked sleep-timing delay. Nevertheless, sleep delays were associated temporally with late-dosed stimulants in this group.