Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2024; 17(02): e199-e202
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777783
Short Communication

Associations between Sleep Quality and Serum Levels of Neurofilament Light in Individuals with Premanifest Huntington Disease

Mitchell Turner
1   Centre for Precision Health, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
,
Danielle Bartlett 
2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
,
Govinda Poudel
3   Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
,
Pauline Zaenker
1   Centre for Precision Health, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
,
Simon Laws
1   Centre for Precision Health, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
,
Johnny Lo
4   School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
,
Mel Ziman
2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
,
Travis Cruickshank
1   Centre for Precision Health, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
5   Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Sciences, Perth, WA, Australia
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors declare that the present research was funded by Lotterywest under grant number 107/20090827.
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the associations between sleep quality and serum levels of neurofilament light (NfL) protein in individuals with premanifest Huntington disease (HD).

Materials and Methods We recruited 28 individuals with premanifest HD from a pre-existing database (of the Huntington's Environmental Research Optimisation Scheme, HEROs). The participants filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a subjective measure of sleep quality, and blood was collected via routine venepuncture to measure peripheral NfL levels.

Results The PSQI scores (median: 5.0; interquartile range: 4.0–7.5) indicated poor sleep quality. General linear modelling revealed no significant (p = 0.242) association between PSQI scores and NfL levels. No significant differences were found between individuals with good and poor sleep quality for any demographic variable collected.

Discussion Contrary to studies on other neurological conditions, there was no association between sleep quality and NfL levels in individuals with premanifest HD. This was unexpected, given the influence of environmental factors (such as social network size) on neurodegeneration in individuals with premanifest HD.

Keywords

sleep quality - Huntington disease - neurofilament proteins


Publication History

Received: 02 February 2023

Accepted: 11 September 2023

Article published online:
15 February 2024

© 2024. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 

  • References

  • 1 Goodman AO, Morton AJ, Barker RA. Identifying sleep disturbances in Huntington's disease using a simple disease-focused questionnaire. PLoS Curr 2010; 2: RRN1189
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Lazar AS, Panin F, Goodman AO. et al. Sleep deficits but no metabolic deficits in premanifest Huntington's disease. Ann Neurol 2015; 78 (04) 630-648
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Neutel D, Tchikviladzé M, Charles P. et al. Nocturnal agitation in Huntington disease is caused by arousal-related abnormal movements rather than by rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Sleep Med 2015; 16 (06) 754-759
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Goodman AO, Rogers L, Pilsworth S. et al. Asymptomatic sleep abnormalities are a common early feature in patients with Huntington's disease. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2011; 11 (02) 211-217
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Piano C, Della Marca G, Losurdo A. et al. Subjective assessment of sleep in Huntington disease: reliability of sleep questionnaires compared to polysomnography. Neurodegener Dis 2017; 17 (06) 330-337
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Maffi S, Scaricamazza E, Migliore S, Casella M, Ceccarelli C, Squitieri F. Sleep Quality and Related Clinical Manifestations in Huntington Disease. J Pers Med 2022; 12 (06) 864
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Baker CR, Domínguez D JF, Stout JC. et al. Subjective sleep problems in Huntington's disease: A pilot investigation of the relationship to brain structure, neurocognitive, and neuropsychiatric function. J Neurol Sci 2016; 364: 148-153
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Targa A, Dakterzada F, Benítez I. et al. Decrease in sleep depth is associated with higher cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Sleep 2021; 44 (02) zsaa147
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Werner Jr JK, Shahim P, Pucci JU. et al. Poor sleep correlates with biomarkers of neurodegeneration in mild traumatic brain injury patients: a CENC study. Sleep 2021; 44 (06) zsaa272
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Zhang P, Tan C-W, Chen G-H. et al. Patients with chronic insomnia disorder have increased serum levels of neurofilaments, neuron-specific enolase and S100B: does organic brain damage exist?. Sleep Med 2018; 48: 163-171
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Tanigaki WK, Rossetti MA, Rocha NP, Stimming EF. Sleep dysfunction in Huntington's disease: perspectives from patients. J Huntingtons Dis 2020; 9 (04) 345-352
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Diago EB, Martínez-Horta S, Lasaosa SS. et al. Circadian rhythm, cognition, and mood disorders in Huntington's disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2018; 7 (02) 193-198
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Cruickshank T, Bartlett D, Govus A. et al. The relationship between lifestyle and serum neurofilament light protein in Huntington's disease. Brain Behav 2020; 10 (05) e01578
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Symonds AL, Macerollo A, Foy K, Alusi SH, Davies R. Genetic and Environmental Contributors to Neurodegeneration: An Exploration of the Effects of Alcohol on Clinical Features of Huntington's Disease Using the Enroll-HD Global Platform. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18 (10) 5113
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar