Sleep in older women with Parkinson's disease.

The sleep status of twenty-one women with Parkinson's disease (PD) was compared to that of twenty-two women without PD (controls). Variables measured included the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, self-reported night-time sleep, mood, functional status and, in PD subjects, levodopa exposure and disease duration. Results indicated that, in general, the women with PD were more sleepy than the controls during the day and less sleepy at night. Both groups exhibited sleepiness rhythms with 12 and 24 hour periodicities and similar nighttime sleep characteristics. Women with PD exhibited more mood disturbance consistent with borderline clinical depression and were significantly more impaired in their ability to carry out the activities of daily living. Early nursing assessment and interventions addressing these potential problems may significantly reduce their incidence and/or severity.