Are periodic movements in sleep a basal ganglia dysfunction?

Muscle activity during sleep is a new area of interest in sleep research. No precise brain structures are known to be involved in sleep movement. The etiology of periodic movements during sleep is unknown. The present study was dedicated to evaluate involvement of basal ganglia in periodic movements of the legs during sleep (PMS) in Parkinson's diseased patients. Sleep was monitored in 3 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and PMS (PMS/PD) and in 3 patients suffering from restless legs syndrome and PMS (PMS/non PD). Following treatment, the six patients were monitored again during sleep. It was found that only the PMS/PD group of patients had improved significantly with appropriate treatment. Improved motor function in PD patients is associated with decreased PMS, regardless of wether the patients are treated with dopaminergic or anticholinergic agents. This is consistent with our previous data. It may be suggested that the striopallidal system is involved in periodic sleep movements of Parkinson's diseased patients.