Parkinson’s can affect sleep in many ways, ranging from trouble falling or staying asleep at night to excessive sleepiness during the day. Good sleep boosts everything from your mood to your ability to think and process to your physical movement. Understanding sleep problems and Parkinson’s is often the first step you can take to enhance your sleep.
In this webinar, Dr. Postuma discussed:
- What causes sleep problems in Parkinson’s
- The difference between sleep changes related to aging and those related to Parkinson’s
- The difference between sleepiness and fatigue
- The connection between sleep and medication
- Different types of sleep disorders (somnolence, insomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder) and how to treat them
- And much more!
To get access to the recording, click here.
To download the transcript, click here.
Note: This is not a flawless word-for-word transcript, but it’s close.
Medications & Treatments Mentioned During this Webinar
(Listed alphabetically)
| Clonazepam | Benzodiazepine |
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | Psycho-social intervention |
| Doxepin | Tricyclic antidepressant |
| Gabapentin | GABA analogue |
| LightBox | Box that gives off bright light that mimics natural outdoor light |
| Lorazepam | Benzodiazepine |
| Lunesta (Eszopiclone) | Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) |
| Melatonin | Hormone supplement |
| Modafinil | Wakefulness-promoting drug |
| Pregabalin (Lyrica) | GABA analogue |
| Ritalin | Stimulant |
| Selegiline | MAO inhibitor |
| Trazodone | SSRI antidepressant |
Further Reading
There were a lot of topics mentioned and questions asked via the chat during the webinar. The following list includes other resources we’ve shared on sleep and articles relevant to questions asked.
A Primer on Sleep and Parkinson’s
Every Victory Counts® manual for living well with Parkinson’s
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, PhD
The Joe Rogan Experience Episode #1109 – Matthew Walker
Why Is It So Hard to Sleep Now That I Have Parkinson’s?
Sleepiness and Fatigue in Parkinson’s and What To Do About Them
Making the Best of a Bad Night’s Sleep
9 Easy Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep with Parkinson’s
What is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder?
Living Well with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
The effects of sleeping pills on mortality and cancer rates
The influence of sleep on Parkinson’s symptoms
RBD as a pre-motor symptom and predictor of Parkinson’s
Meta-analysis of treatments for Parkinson’s sleep disorders
Multifactorial sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s
Restless Leg Syndrome Fact Sheet
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Don’t forget to register for our upcoming webinars. We cover a range of topics pertinent to the Parkinson’s community, so be sure to tune in to get more information and have your questions answered by the experts. Plus, in case you can’t make it live, we will provide a recording to everyone who registers.
Visit our full webinar calendar so you can see past events, see everything that’s coming up, and mark your calendars.
Please email your questions about webinar topics to Melani at [email protected].
This webinar is sponsored* by Boston Scientific and Medtronic.
*While the generous support of our sponsors makes our educational programs available,
their donations do not influence Davis Phinney Foundation content, perspective, or speaker selection.
