A new University-based Sleep and Wellbeing Clinic aims to help those with Parkinson’s disease improve their daily sleep hygiene and overall sleep quality. The service, which is based at Kent’s Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy (PCIT), will launch on Friday 14 March – World Sleep Day.
Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in those with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions, affecting up to 70-90% of patients, with the most common symptoms being insomnia, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep behaviour disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless leg syndrome, and sleep disordered breathing common symptoms. Such problems typically arise because of neurodegeneration, motor dysfunction (e.g. tremors) as well as non-motor (e.g. anxiety and depression) symptoms.
However, by implementing a range of sleep hygiene practices and regular reviews, the team believe that sleep disturbances can be significantly mitigated and sleep quality improved. They will also conduct a number of assessments and tests to monitor and improve sleep. These will include comprehensive studies in a sleep lab to analyse sleep stages and identify specific disruptions or abnormalities, and the implementation of circadian lighting systems that provide blue-hued lights in the morning to promote wakefulness and blue-filtered lights in the evening to facilitate better sleep.
Gurprit Lall, Director of the Sleep and Wellbeing Clinic and Professor of Neuroscience, and a world-leading expert on biological rhythms and circadian neurobiology, explained: ‘We aim to promote healthy sleep through education and personalised, non-pharmacological strategies. We will provide participants with an understanding of sleep hygiene, healthy sleep habits and basic information on how the human body uses external signals to maintain good quality sleep. Using data from sleep diaries, activity profiles, and light exposure patterns, we will develop client-centred advice to empower individuals to optimise their sleep and wellbeing, thereby enhancing overall quality of life
‘We will also conduct a number of tests and assessments based on the patient’s needs and bespoke to individuals. These will help build robust sleep architectures, thereby enhancing overall quality of life.’
The Clinic’s co-directors are Aiste Steponenaite, Aadesh Dave and Media Zanganeh from the Medway School of Pharmacy.
Further information is available on the PCIT website.
It is hoped that in time the service will be expanded to include everyone.