A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF ACTIGRAPHIC MEASURES IN HOME-RESIDING ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE PATIENTS

This article reports cross-sectional and follow-up data with actigraph ic measures of nocturnal sleep and rest/activity in 61 Alzheimer's dis ease (AD) patients as well as the relation of actigraphic measures to levels of behavioral disturbance across different stages of the diseas e. Over the course of approximately 1.5 years' follow-up, patients sho wed significant deterioration of nocturnal sleep parameters, but no si gnificant change in rest/activity circadian rhythm parameters. There w ere also significant correlations among nocturnal sleep, rest/activity circadian rhythm, and behavioral disturbance measures, but only in re latively early stages of AD. It is argued that study of nocturnal slee p and circadian rhythm in relation to behavioral disturbance in AD req uires longitudinal data and analyses that take into account the stage of disease at which patients are assessed.