Poor sleep and multiple sclerosis: associations with symptoms of multiple sclerosis and quality of life

Repeated prefrontal tDCS for improving mental health and cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease associated with physical disability, psychological impairment, and cognitive dysfunctions. Consequently, the disease burden is substantial, and treatment choices are limited. In this randomized, double-blind study, we conducted repeated prefrontal electrical stimulation in 40 patients with MS to evaluate mental health variables (quality of life, sleep difficulties, psychological distress) and cognitive dysfunctions (psychomotor speed, working memory, attention/vigilance), marking it as the third largest sample size tDCS research conducted in MS to date.

METHODS

The patients were randomly assigned (block randomization method) to two groups of sham (n = 20), or 1.5-mA (n = 20) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3) and right frontopolar cortex (Fp2) with anodal and cathodal stimulation respectively (electrode size: 25 cm2). The treatment included 10 sessions of 20 min of stimulation delivered every other day. Outcome measures were MS quality of life, sleep quality, psychological distress, and performance on a neuropsychological test battery dedicated to cognitive dysfunctions in MS (psychomotor speed, working memory, and attention). All outcome measures were evaluated at the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. Both patients and technicians delivering the stimulation were unaware of the type of stimulation being used.

RESULTS

Repeated prefrontal real tDCS significantly improved quality of life and reduced sleep difficulties and psychological distress compared to the sham group. It, furthermore, improved psychomotor speed, attention, and vigilance compared to the sham protocol. Improvement in mental health outcome variables and cognitive outperformance were interrelated and could predict each other.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated prefrontal and frontopolar tDCS ameliorates secondary clinical symptoms related to mental health and results in beneficial cognitive effects in patients with MS. These results support applying prefrontal tDCS in larger trials for improving mental health and cognitive dysfunctions in MS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06401928.

The multidimensional sleep health of individuals with multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease and healthy controls

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Sleep issues are common for people with neurodegenerative conditions, yet research has focused on specific aspects of sleep. While important, a more holistic approach to investigating sleep, termed "sleep health," considers sleep's positive and negative aspects. Current studies exploring sleep health have lacked a control group for reference. For the first time, this study investigated the sleep health of people living with multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease (HD) and compared it with a community sample.

METHODS

111 people, including 43 with multiple sclerosis, 19 with HD, and 49 from a community sample, participated in this study. The data, including actigraphy, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, were collected as part of ongoing research studies. Seven sleep health domains were determined from the collected data, and a composite sleep health score was developed. Analysis of variance and independent t tests were performed to identify population and sex differences.

RESULTS

The HD group had higher sleep regularity and lower sleep rhythmicity than the multiple sclerosis and community sample groups. The HD group had significantly less sleep duration than the multiple sclerosis group. No significant differences between the groups were observed in the sleep health composite score. Males had significantly higher sleep regularity within the HD group but significantly lower sleepiness scores in the community sample.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that people with HD may experience greater variance in their wake times, therefore decreasing the consistency of being awake or asleep 24 hours apart. Understanding the mechanisms for this should be explored in people with HD.

CITATION

Turner M, Griffiths M, Laws M, Vial S, Bartlett D, Cruickshank T. The multidimensional sleep health of individuals with multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease and healthy controls. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(6):967-972.

The association of comorbidities with sleep quality among Australians with multiple sclerosis: Insights from the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND

Comorbidities and poor sleep quality are prevalent among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our understanding of the effects of comorbidities on sleep quality in MS remains limited.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to investigate whether the number and presence of specific comorbidities have associations with sleep quality and to assess the relative contribution of comorbidity groups to sleep quality.

METHODS

We collected data on sleep quality (using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) and presence of comorbidities in people with MS (n = 1597). Associations between comorbidities and sleep quality were examined using linear regression and dominance analysis.

RESULTS

Having more comorbidities was associated with poorer sleep quality (p for trend < 0.001). All 13 groups of comorbidities explained 12.9% of the variance in PSQI from which half of the variance was contributed by mental health disorders. In total, 16 of the 28 comorbidities were associated with significantly worse sleep quality, with the strongest associations seen for 'other autoimmune diseases' (β = 1.98), depression (β = 1.76), anxiety (β = 1.72) and rheumatoid arthritis (β = 1.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Many individual comorbidities are associated with poorer sleep quality, with mental health disorders making the largest relative contribution. Optimal management of comorbidities that make the greatest contributions could have the largest benefit for improving sleep in MS.

Mental health and frailty in people with multiple sclerosis: unraveling a complex relationship

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have up to a 15 times higher risk of being frail compared to age-matched individuals without MS. Frailty is a biological syndrome of decreased physiological reserve and resilience that increases the vulnerability to adverse clinical outcomes and leads to a lower quality of life. Recent studies have begun investigating frailty in the context of MS, highlighting several associations between frailty and adverse events, such as falls, and common MS-related symptoms involving the physical health domain, such as walking and sleeping problems. However, there is a critical knowledge gap regarding the relationship between mental health and frailty in people with MS. This mini-review article aimed to shed light on the potential relationships between MS, frailty, and mental health. Despite the dearth of studies on this topic, indirect evidence strongly suggests that the association between frailty and mental health in people with MS is likely bidirectional in nature. Specifically, mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety may be involved in the etiology of frailty in people with MS. However, they could also be exacerbated by the detrimental effects of frailty on overall health. The complex relationship between frailty and mental health in MS underscores the multifaceted challenges people with MS face. Conducting further research to untangle such a relationship is critical to developing early detection and intervention strategies for improving well-being and medical outcomes in people with MS.

Cannabidiol Exerts Sedative and Hypnotic Effects in Normal and Insomnia Model Mice Through Activation of 5-HT1A Receptor

Cannabis sativa has been used for improving sleep for long history. Cannabidiol (CBD) has drown much attention as a non-addictive psychoactive component in Cannabis sativa extract. However, the effects of CBD on sleep architecture and it's acting mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the sedative-hypnotic effect of cannabidiol (CBD), assessed the effects of CBD on sleep using a wireless physiological telemetry system. We further explored the therapeutic effects of CBD using 4-chloro-dl-phenylalanine (PCPA) induced insomnia model and changes in sleep latency, sleep duration and intestinal flora were evaluated. CBD shortened sleep latency and increases sleep duration in both normal and insomnia mice, and those effects were blocked by 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635. We determined that CBD increases 5-HT1A receptors expression and 5-HT content in the hypothalamus of PCPA-pretreated mice and affects tryptophan metabolism in the intestinal flora. These results showed that activation of 5-HT1A receptors is one of the potential mechanisms underlying the sedative-hypnotic effect of CBD. This study validated the effects of CBD on sleep and evaluated its potential therapeutic effects on insomnia.

Health-related quality of life and utilities among Lebanese patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and utilities of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients in Lebanon using generic and MS-specific QoL instruments, categorized by disease severity, and explored factors associated with HRQoL.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional, retrospective HRQoL study collecting data through face-to-face interviews using the EQ-5D-5 L and the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life (MusiQoL) questionnaires. We enrolled Lebanese patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with MS for >6 months. Patients were categorized by disease severity using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores: 0-3 (mild MS), 4-6.5 (moderate MS), and 7-9 (severe MS). Bivariate and linear regression analyses were performed to study factors associated with HRQoL.

RESULTS

A total of 210 patients (mean age: 43.3 years; 65.7 % females) were included. The mean EQ-5D-5 L utility score was 0.74. This score decreased significantly with disease severity (p < 0.001 for the trend): 0.93, 0.60, and 0.32 for mild, moderate, and severe MS, respectively. The mean MusiQoL global index score was 71.33 and was significantly lower for severe MS (58.68), than for moderate (65.23) and mild (77.80), (p < 0.001 for the trend). Higher educational level, lower EDSS scores, and longer disease duration were associated significantly with a higher EQ-5D-5 L utility (R2 = 0.67), while employment, lower EDSS scores, and decrease in cognitive difficulties were associated with better MusiQoL utility (R2 = 0.46).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a significant and gradual deterioration in HRQoL as MS progresses, resulting in low utility scores for patients with severe MS.

The efficacy of telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy in people with chronic illnesses and mental diseases: A meta-analysis

COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase of remote treatments, such as telephone-delivery cognitive behavioral therapy (T-CBT). To our knowledge, no meta-analyses studied the effect of T-CBT in chronic and/or mental illnesses on multiple psychological outcomes. Therefore, our study aims to evaluating the efficacy of T-CBT compared to other interventions (treatment as usual, TAU, or face-to-face CBT). Each effect size (ES) was calculated in Hedges' g and pooled together to produce a mean ES for each outcome (depression, anxiety, mental and physical QoL, worry, coping, and sleep disturbances). The meta-analysis included 33 studies with a randomized controlled trial design. A large ES was found when comparing the efficacy of T-CBT against TAU on depression (g = 0.84, p < 0.001), whereas a moderate ES was found on anxiety (g = 0.57; p < 0.001), and a small effect on mental quality of life (g = 0.33, p < 0.001), sleep disturbances (g = 0.37, p = 0.042), coping (g = 0.20, p = 0.016) and worry (g = 0.43, p = 0.001). The meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of T-CBT and CBT on depression revealed a not significant pooled ES (g = 0.06, p = 0.466). The results provided evidence that T-CBT could be to be more effective than TAU conditions in multiple psychological outcomes, and as efficient as face-to-face CBT in treating depression.

Association between frailty and sleep quality in people living with multiple sclerosis and obesity: An observational cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

A majority of the people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience sleep disturbances. Frailty is also common in pwMS. The geriatric literature strongly suggests that frailty is associated with worse sleep outcomes in community-dwelling older adults, but this association has yet to be explored among pwMS. This study focused on examining the association between frailty and sleep quality in pwMS.

METHODS

Seventy-six people with both MS and obesity (mean age: 47.6 ± 10.9 years, 81.6 % female, mean body mass index (BMI): 37.10 ± 5.5 kg/m2, mean Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS): 0.82 ± 1.20) were included in this cross-sectional secondary analysis. A comprehensive frailty index (FI) based on 41 health deficits from various health domains was calculated based on standardized procedures. Sleep quality was determined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI).

RESULTS

Overall, 67.1 % of the participants were identified as non-frail (FI ≤ 0.25), and 32.9 % were identified as frail (FI > 0.25). A significant correlation was observed between FI scores and global PSQI scores (ρ = 0.43, p < 0.05). Cross-tabulation analyses revealed that frail participants had worse subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and higher use of sleep medications compared to non-frail participants (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study identified a significant association between frailty and sleep quality in people with both MS and obesity with minimal disability. These findings underscore the importance of untangling the relationship between frailty and sleep quality in pwMS. These results could lead to a more targeted approach for rehabilitation interventions aiming to improve frailty in MS.

Disease-modifying therapies do not affect sleep quality or daytime sleepiness in a large Australian MS cohort

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may impact daily functioning. The extent to which disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) contribute to sleep outcomes is under-examined.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of DMTs on sleep outcomes in an Australian cohort of people with MS and investigate associations between DMT use and beliefs about sleep problems and daily functioning (social functioning and activity engagement).

METHODS

Sleep outcomes were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. DMT use and functioning were self-reported.

RESULTS

Of 1,715 participants, 64% used a DMT. No differences in sleep outcomes were detected between participants who did and did not use DMTs, the type of DMT used (lower vs higher efficacy, interferon-β vs other DMTs), the timing of administration, or adherence to standard administration recommendations. Beliefs that DMT use worsened sleep were associated with poorer sleep quality and perceptions that sleep problems interfered with daily functioning.

CONCLUSION

The use of a DMT does not appear to affect self-reported sleep outcomes in people with MS. However, beliefs that DMT use makes sleep worse were associated with poorer sleep quality and increased interference in daily functioning, suggesting a need for education to diminish negative perceptions of DMT use.

Role of selective attention in fatigue in neurological disorders

BACKGROUND

Chronic fatigue is a significant symptom in several diseases including traumatic and degenerative neurological disorders. While several studies have investigated the correlates of chronic fatigue, there is as yet no unifying framework to explain chronic fatigue.

METHODS

In this narrative review, I investigate the role of selective attention in the development of chronic fatigue and discuss results within the framework of the sensory attenuation model of fatigue, which posits that fatigue is the phenomenological output of altered attention to sensory input. Following a short introduction of this framework, I present results from investigations that address attentional mechanisms in fatigue in multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury and Parkinson's disease.

RESULTS

Attention was quantified in all four disease models using a variety of outcome measures, including behavioural, neurophysiological, structural and functional brain connectivity. The range of measures precluded direct comparison of results across disease conditions; however, in all four disease models there was evidence of poor selective attention that explained levels of chronic fatigue, supporting the sensory attenuation model of fatigue as a disease-independent mechanism of fatigue. Evidence was lacking to draw any conclusions about the direction of causality.

CONCLUSION

The role of selective attention in development of fatigue is indicated. Future studies must focus on establishing causality and exploring attentional circuitry as a potential therapeutic target.

Validation of the EQ-5D-5L and psychosocial bolt-ons in a large cohort of people living with multiple sclerosis in Australia

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system which results in disability over time and reduced quality of life. To increase the sensitivity of the EQ-5D-5L for psychosocial health, four bolt-on items from the AQoL-8D were used to create the nine-item EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial. We aimed to externally validate the EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial in a large cohort of people with MS (pwMS) and explore the discriminatory power of the new instrument with EQ-5D-5L/AQoL-8D.

METHODS

A large representative sample from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study completed the AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L (including EQ VAS) and both instruments health state utilities (HSUs) were scored using Australian tariffs. Sociodemographic/clinical data were also collected. External validity of EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial scoring algorithm was assessed with mean absolute errors (MAE) and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Discriminatory sensitivity was assessed with an examination of ceiling/floor effects, and disability severity classifications.

RESULTS

Among 1683 participants (mean age: 58.6 years; 80% female), over half (55%) had moderate or severe disability. MAE (0.063) and the distribution of the prediction error were similar to the original development study. Mean (± standard deviation) HSUs were EQ-5D-5L: 0.58 ± 0.32, EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial 0.62 ± 0.29, and AQoL-8D: 0.63 ± 0.20. N = 157 (10%) scored perfect health (i.e. HSU = 1.0) on the EQ-5D-5L, but reported a mean HSU of 0.90 on the alternative instruments. The Sleep bolt-on dimension was particularly important for pwMS.

CONCLUSIONS

The EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial is more sensitive than the EQ-5D-5L in pwMS whose HSUs approach those reflecting full health. When respondent burden is taken into account, the EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial is preferential to the AQoL-8D. We suggest a larger confirmatory study comparing all prevalent multi-attribute utility instruments for pwMS.