Chronotherapeutika bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen

Dieter Kunz,
AG Schlafforschung & Klinische Chronobiologie, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin & Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin

Nighttime agitation is frequent in patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disaese and / or synucleinopathy. In Alzheimer nighttime disturbances are thought to be circadian rhythm disturbances. These disturbances cause exhaustion in the caregivers because of poor sleep. Exhaustion is considered the number one reason for longterm institutionalization of these patients. REM-sleep behavior disorder is considered a precursor of synucleinopathies. Here the outacting of dreams often cause injuries to the patients or the partners sleeping nearby.
The two chronotherapeutics light and melatonin - as the signal of darkness - show beneficial effects in neurodegenerative disorders. Both lack serious side effects. Still,especially with respect to light in demented patients reports are inconsistent. One of the major reasons is the emerging picture of complexity with many interrelations on the effects of light on human health. Since the discovery of melanopsin and description of his melatonin action spectrum some ten years ago, a tremendous amount of new data on the topic has been reported. It is clear that light has a pivotal influence on human performance, well-being and health. Melatonin has positive effects in both nighttime agitation in Alzheimer´s as well as in RBD patients.

back/zurück