About this Research Topic
Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), formerly referred to as dementia, are chronic, incurable, and highly debilitating conditions characterized by a progressive loss of neuronal populations. Sleep disorders, including insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnia, sleep-related movement and breathing disorders, and circadian rhythm disturbances, are common in patients with NCDs and often occur long before the onset of clinical symptoms. Over the past decade, several studies have used neuroimaging techniques to investigate the neuroanatomical and functional correlates of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in patients with NCDs.
Distinct patterns of cortical atrophy and functional alterations have been associated with sleep alterations in specific neurocognitive disorders. However, this field of research is still in its infancy, and there is a great need for imaging studies to understand the extent to which morphological and functional alterations of specific brain regions contribute to the sleep alterations and alertness impairments experienced by patients.
This Research Topic aims to increase the knowledge in this field by bringing together cutting-edge researches focused on the neuroimaging correlates of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in patients suffering from NCDs, more specifically amyloidosis (Alzheimer’s disease), tauopathies (Pick’s disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Degeneration), α-synucleinopathies (Lewy Body Disorders, Multiple System Atrophy, Parkinson’s disease), transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathies (Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Motor Neuron diseases) prion diseases and Huntington’s disease. Achieving a deeper insight on the complex relationship between neurodegeneration and sleep/circadian rhythms alterations would pave the way for the development of novel treatments, both pharmacological and behavioral, for a personalized management of patients with NCDs.
We welcome any types of manuscripts supported by Frontiers in Neurology, pertaining but not limited to the following themes:
• Association between sleep alterations or their diurnal effects and brain activity or morphometry
• Longitudinal relationship between brain activity/morphometry and course of sleep disturbances and circadian rhythm disruption
• Differences in the patterns of cortical atrophy or activity with respect to presence of sleep disorders
• Neuroimaging correlates of poor sleep quality or alertness impairments
Conflicts of Interest: Dr. Arnaldi receives lecture and consultant fees from Bioprojet, Jazz, Fidia and Lundbeck. The other Topic Editors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Distinct patterns of cortical atrophy and functional alterations have been associated with sleep alterations in specific neurocognitive disorders. However, this field of research is still in its infancy, and there is a great need for imaging studies to understand the extent to which morphological and functional alterations of specific brain regions contribute to the sleep alterations and alertness impairments experienced by patients.
This Research Topic aims to increase the knowledge in this field by bringing together cutting-edge researches focused on the neuroimaging correlates of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in patients suffering from NCDs, more specifically amyloidosis (Alzheimer’s disease), tauopathies (Pick’s disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Degeneration), α-synucleinopathies (Lewy Body Disorders, Multiple System Atrophy, Parkinson’s disease), transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathies (Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Motor Neuron diseases) prion diseases and Huntington’s disease. Achieving a deeper insight on the complex relationship between neurodegeneration and sleep/circadian rhythms alterations would pave the way for the development of novel treatments, both pharmacological and behavioral, for a personalized management of patients with NCDs.
We welcome any types of manuscripts supported by Frontiers in Neurology, pertaining but not limited to the following themes:
• Association between sleep alterations or their diurnal effects and brain activity or morphometry
• Longitudinal relationship between brain activity/morphometry and course of sleep disturbances and circadian rhythm disruption
• Differences in the patterns of cortical atrophy or activity with respect to presence of sleep disorders
• Neuroimaging correlates of poor sleep quality or alertness impairments
Conflicts of Interest: Dr. Arnaldi receives lecture and consultant fees from Bioprojet, Jazz, Fidia and Lundbeck. The other Topic Editors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Keywords: neuroimaging, sleep alterations, neurological, neurodegenerative, Diurnal Rest-Activity Rhythm Disturbances
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
