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Disorganized sleep–wake schedule associated with neuroendocrine abnormalities in dementia. A clinical study
Author(s) -
Björkstén Karin Sparring,
Basun Hans,
Wetterberg Lennart
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930100205
Subject(s) - melatonin , circadian rhythm , dementia , medicine , endocrinology , severe dementia , sleep (system call) , blood sampling , psychology , hydrocortisone , disease , computer science , operating system
Demented patients were investigated by blood sampling at 10 occasions during a 24‐hour period. Serum levels of melatonin and cortisol were determined. One patient with probable vascular dementia had a severely disorganized sleep‐wake schedule and showed disturbed patterns of serum melatonin and cortisol. After withdrawal of alprenolol, substitution of a vitamin B 12 deficiency and cataract surgery, the patient regained normal sleep habits and a normal circadian pattern of serum cortisol and melatonin. A patient with frontal lobe dementia and a disorganized sleep‐wake schedule showed a disturbed melatonin rhythm, unexpected cortisol peaks and a disability to suppress melatonin by light. Two Alzheimer patients with regular sleep habits had normal circadian patterns of serum melatonin and cortisol.