Slow-wave sleep and REM sleep without atonia predict motor progression in Parkinson’s disease

• Published in: Sleep medicine Vol. 115; pp. 155 - 161
• Main Authors: Tao, Meng-Xing, Meng, Lin, Xie, Wei-Ye, Li, Han-Xing, Zhang, Jin-Ru, Yan, Jia-Hui, Cheng, Xiao-Yu, Wang, Fen, Mao, Cheng-Jie, Shen, Yun, Liu, Chun-Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Motor dysfunction; Parkinson's disease (PD); REM sleep without atonia (RWA); Sleep; Slow-wave sleep (SWS); REM sleep without atonia (RWA); Sleep; Slow-wave sleep (SWS); Parkinson's disease (PD); Motor dysfunction
• ISSN: 1389-9457; 1878-5506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.02.003

Growing evidence supports the potential role of sleep in the motor progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep without atonia (RWA) are important sleep parameters. The association between SWS and RWA with PD motor progression and their predictive value have not yet been elucidated. We retro-prospectively analyzed clinical and polysomnographic data of 136 patients with PD. The motor symptoms were assessed using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS III) at baseline and follow-up to determine its progression. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the cross-sectional associations between slow-wave energy (SWE), RWA and clinical symptoms. Longitudinal analyses were performed using Cox regression and linear mixed-effects models. Among 136 PD participants, cross-sectional partial correlation analysis showed SWE decreased with the prolongation of the disease course (P = 0.046), RWA density was positively correlated with Hoehn & Yahr (H-Y) stage (tonic RWA, P < 0.001; phasic RWA, P = 0.002). Cox regression analysis confirmed that low SWE (HR = 1.739, 95% CI = 1.038–2.914; P = 0.036; FDR-P = 0.036) and high tonic RWA (HR = 0.575, 95% CI = 0.343–0.963; P = 0.032; FDR-P = 0.036) were predictors of motor symptom progression. Furthermore, we found that lower SWE predicted faster rate of axial motor progression (P < 0.001; FDR-P < 0.001) while higher tonic RWA density was associated with faster rate of rigidity progression (P = 0.006; FDR-P = 0.024) using linear mixed-effects models. These findings suggest that SWS and RWA might represent markers of different motor subtypes progression in PD. •SWE gradually decreases as PD progressed.•RWA density is positively correlated with the disease severity in PD.•Lower SWE during NREM sleep predicts faster motor progression in PD, especially axial symptoms progression.•Higher tonic RWA density during REM sleep predicts faster motor progression in PD, especially rigidity symptom progression.