Neurological problems such as epilepsy, sleepwalking, Parkinson’s, restless legs syndrome, and sleep paralysis can all disrupt sleep. These conditions can cause unpleasant arousals and changes that disrupt sleep, leading to insomnia and difficulty sleeping. Neurological diseases can also disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to problems sleeping at night like autism spectrum disorder and headaches. Long-term sleep disorders can increase the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, and affect cognitive functions like learning and memory.
According to Dr. Dinh from the Department of Neurology at the Neuroscience Center of Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, accurately diagnosing sleep disorders in patients with neurological diseases can be challenging due to overlapping and interacting symptoms. Polysomnography is often used to diagnose sleep disorders by exploring and recording the parameters and changes that occur during sleep. Other tests such as screening for stimulants or drugs that disrupt sleep and measuring sleep latency to determine drowsiness levels and ability to stay awake may also be conducted.
Polysomnography uses multiple electrode channels to assess the physiological function of sleep. Channels for electroencephalography, eye movements, muscle movements, respiratory parameters, and other functions provide detailed information for diagnosing neurological diseases that disrupt sleep. Treatment for sleep disorders often involves a combination of therapies including medication, behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, diet, exercise
