STUDY ON SLEEP IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 30  (1) , 40-46
Abstract
A polygraphic study of sleep was performed on 12 patients with ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis] and 12 normal controls. The total duration of sleep and the proportion of different stages of sleep did not differ significantly between the patient and control groups. A variety of morphologic peculiarities were observed in certain patients: frequent and repetitive blinking movements during the waking state (under quiet, dark conditions); persistence of EMG [electromyogram] activity during both PS [paradoxical sleep] and SWS [slow wave sleep]; and an early appearance of marked slow delta wave activity at the beginning of sleep. Patients had increased PS latency and longer and more frequent awakenings. Certain patients showed both qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of respiratory rhythm. A longitudinal study was performed on 1 patient. Results are discussed in relation to existing literature.

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