0000000001328091
AUTHOR
Paola Mattaliano
High frequency of motoneuron dysfunction in FTD: a clinical and electrophysiological study
REM sleep behavior disorder and periodic leg movements in sleep in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Introduction In the last few years, it has been increasingly recognized that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) frequently suffer of sleep-related complaints, including insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and daytime sleepiness, although, in the past, many of the nocturnal symptoms have been mainly ascribed to chronic respiratory insufficiency and hypoventilation. In addition, excluding few single cases reported, polysomnographic studies did not look for abnormal motor activity during sleep that could be indicative of Rapid Eye Movements (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and REM sleep without atonia (RSWA), which are highly prevalent in other neurodegenerative disorders with …
Neglect-like effects induced by tDCS modulation of posterior parietal cortices in healthy subjects
Background Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over right posterior parietal cortex was shown to induce interference on visuospatial perception in healthy subjects. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is another noninvasive brain stimulation technique that works modulating cortical activity. It is applied through easy to use, noncostly, and portable devices. Objective/Hypothesis The aim of the current study was to investigate if the novel approach of “dual” stimulation over parietal cortices compared with the unilateral (right) cathodal one is able to induce greater and/or longer-lasting neglect-like effects in normal subjects performing a computerized visuospatia…
REM sleep behavior disorder and periodic leg movements during sleep in ALS
Objective To assess sleep characteristics and the occurrence of abnormal muscle activity during sleep, such as REM sleep without atonia (RSWA), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS), in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods A total of 41 patients with ALS and 26 healthy subjects were submitted to clinical interview and overnight video-polysomnography. Results A total of 22 patients with ALS (53.6%) reported poor sleep quality. Polysomnographic studies showed that patients with ALS had reduced total sleep time, increased wakefulness after sleep onset, shortened REM and slow-wave sleep, and decreased sleep efficiency, compared t…
EVALUATION OF PROGRESSION IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: A NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Sleep-wake disturbances in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Objective To evaluate the frequency, severity and determinants of sleep disturbances in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods Information about night-time complaints was collected using a standardised questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in a group of 100 patients with ALS and in 100 control subjects matched for age and sex. Functional disability was assessed using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R). Sleep was studied by overnight polysomnography in 12 patients. Results Fifty-nine patients with ALS and 36 controls reported sleep disturbances. The mean global PSQI score of patients with ALS was s…