APSS Report: Poster Highlights From the 2006 Associated Professional Sleep Societies Meeting

Sleep Disturbances in an Elderly Population: an Epidemiological Survey

Bonanni E, Tognoni G, Borghetti D, et al

In a survey of 2,366 people ≥65 years of age, 65.8% suffered from insomnia. Probands were assessed with a sleep-disturbance questionnaire, the Mini Mental State Examination, part of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. The researchers also found a high correlation between insomnia symptoms and depression, hypertension, and cognitive impairment. 0313

Long-Term Therapeutic Effects of Ramelteon Treatment in Adults with Chronic Insomnia: A 1 Year Study

DeMicco M, Wang-Weigand S, Zhang J

1,213 adults with primary insomnia were given ramelteon, an MT1/MT2-receptor agonist, each night for a year. Clinical Global Impression (CGI) assessments showed improved insomnia condition and moderate therapeutic effect at both 6 months and 1 year. Ramelteon was well-tolerated and improved sleep latency, total sleep time, and CGI. 0690

Pramipexole Produces Sustained Improvements in the Quality of Life in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome

Hoegl B, Stiasny-Kolster K, Kupsch A, Oertel WH, Koester J, Reess J

Pramipexole, a D₂/D₃ dopamine agonist, was assessed for its effect on quality of life (QOL) in patients with restless leg syndrome. A 6-month open-label study was followed up by a 3-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients who received pramipexole for the entire 9-month period had significantly improved QOL. Patients who received placebo after 6 months were subject to worsening. 0844

Investigating the Restless Legs Syndrome by Studying Leg Electromyographic Activity in the fMRI Scanner

Spiegelhalder K, Feige B, Paul D, Riemann D, Hornyak M

The first simultaneous surface electromyography (EMG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) recordings in patients with restless legs syndrome demonstrated the viability of using EMG and fMRI to investigate the pathophysiology of movement disorders. The researchers found that tonic EMG activity correlated with activation of a number of different cerebral and cerebellar areas. Phasic EMG activity did not significantly correlate with cerebral activation. 0850

Cognitive Dysfunction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Yun C, Ma E, Choi S, Hwang H, Choi Y

40 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were administered a handful of neuropsychological tests, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scales. In comparison to controls, patients with OSAS were significantly more likely to suffer from depressed mood and a number of cognitive deficits involving attention, executive functioning, and memory retrieval. 0869

Comparison of Sleep Assessment Devices in Sleep Apnea and Insomnia—Final Report

Means MK, Edinger JD, Stechuchak KM, Olsen MK, Lineberger MD, Kirby AC

The performance of actigraphy (ACT), sleep log (SL), and REMViewTM (RV; Respironics, Inc.), were compared with polysomnography (PSG) as per their efficacy in estimating common parameters in sleep apnea and insomnia patients. ACT, SL, and RV all provided similarly reliable estimates as PSG; however, the accuracy of these metrics varied depending on the parameter being measured and the diagnosis. 0992