Introduction
Even though Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder, several non-motor features such as REM and sleep behaviour disorder have been frequently observed. Previous studies have proposed sleepwalking to be highly prevalent in Parkinson’s disease patients.
Objective
To assess whether probable sleepwalking, either alone or in conjunction with probable REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder is associated with higher odds of Parkinson’s disease in men.
Patients and Methods
Data of 25964 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study was collected between January 2012 and June 2018 for this cross-sectional study.
Assessment
Probable Sleepwalking and rapid eye movement (REM) Sleep Behaviour Disorder were measured using adapted Mayo Sleep Questionnaire
Results
- Around 0.9% had probable SW, 10.6% had probable sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and 1.0% had documented cases of Parkinson’s disease.
- Participants with probable sleepwalking or probable REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder were more likely to have longer sleep duration as compared to those without sleep parasomnias, prevalent daytime sleepiness, hypnotics use and restless leg syndrome (RLS).
- 72.8% of patients with Parkinson’s disease and probable sleepwalking also had probable Sleep Behaviour Disorder.
- Probable sleepwalking without probable REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder was significantly associated with Parkinson’s disease among those with disease duration of 4.1 years to 8 years and more.
- Contrary to that, the probable REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder without probable sleepwalking was associated with higher odds of Parkinson’s disease across disease duration groups.
Conclusion
The presence of both, probable sleepwalking and REM sleep behaviour disorder, was more common among men with Parkinson’s disease and associated with higher risk of Parkinson’s disease compared to those without Parkinson’s disease.