Are Parkinson's Disease and Sleep Disorders Related?

You may be familiar with the fact that people suffering from Parkinson's disease exhibit speech problems. Quite often, people with Parkinson's disease speak softly or unintelligibly. Others may have problems with drooling or swallowing. However, these are not the only symptoms that make life more difficult for those afflicted by Parkinson's disease. In addition to everything else, a number of experts believe there is a correlation between Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders as well.

Parkinson's disease affects approximately 1.5 million adults in the United States. Due to a deficiency in the chemical dopamine, which controls muscle coordination and movement, Parkinson's disease most often affects motor skills and speech. People with Parkinson's disease often experience difficulties with movement; many of them shake uncontrollably or go rigid. Balance is often affected, causing the afflicted person to fall often.

Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders that are most commonly associated can only add to these impairments. Some common problems that occur as a result of Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders are: insomnia, parasomnia, and daytime sleep disorders.

Insomnia

Of all adults with Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders, approximately 74 per cent have insomnia as well. Insomnia causes one to have difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up at a reasonable time. There are various forms of insomnia that can accompany Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders. For example, the insomnia can be intermediate, initial, or terminal.

Parasomnia

Parasomnia is the occurrence of one of the following during sleep: vivid dreams, nocturnal hallucinosis, nightmares, night terrors, nocturnal vocalizations, sleep walking, sleep talking, panic attacks and rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder. Many people who are affected by Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders report that they are also affected by one or more of these annoyances during sleep. This can cause the patient to feel as though they barely slept, when in fact they slept through the entire night.

Daytime Sleep Disorders

People with Parkinson's disease can also experience daytime sleep disorders. Parkinson's disease patients often have trouble staying awake during the day. Usually, this is because they had difficulties sleeping the night before, or because of tmedications prescribed to treat Parkinson's disease. Also, conditions such as dementia, depression, and sleep apnea can accompany Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders. Thus, sleep disorders as a result of, or associated with, Parkinson's disease only serve to complicate already difficult circumstances.

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