Neuroscience
Sleep medicine
Recently, evidence has emerged for a bidirectional relationship between sleep and neurological disorders. First, sleep-wake disorders (SWDs) are very common and may be the first manifestation of underlying neurological disorders. Secondly, SWDs may represent an independent risk factor for neurologic morbidities. Thirdly, sleep-wake function may influence the course/outcome of neurological disorders.
Research activity
Our major research interests are:
- The evaluation of patients affected by restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS). We have conducted epidemiological studies for evaluating RLS prevalence in multiple sclerosis, or cancer. We have conducted a clinical and polysomnographic study in a very large sample of patients in order to define the RLS phenotype. PLMS shows in the majority of RLS patients a progressively decreasing course during the night. We evaluated the change in PLMS by dopamine agonists in RLS patients. The reduction in PLMS index was accompanied by no change in sleep microstructure, in contrast to clonazepam that reduced the sleep fragmentation, but not the PLM index.
- REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD), a REM sleep parasomnia that may an early manifestation of neurodegenerative disorders. We have conducted clinical, neurophysiologic and neuropsychological studies aimed to detect early markers of neurodegenerative dysfunction in RBD patients.
- OSA, the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. OSA may accelerate the onset of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease and might also represent an independent risk factor for Parkinson's disease. We investigated the cognitive deficits and the corresponding brain morphology changes in OSA, and the changes after treatment. A reversal of the focal reductions of greymatter volume and of the diffuse reduction of white matter fiber integrity in multiple brain areas was observed after treatment with Continuous Positive Air Pressure.
Giora E, Galbiati A, Marelli S, Zucconi M, Ferini-Strambi L. Evidence of perceptive impairment in OSA patients investigated by means of a visual search task. Cortex. 2017 Oct;95:136-142.
Postuma RB, Iranzo A, Hogl B, Arnulf I, Ferini-Strambi L, Manni R, Miyamoto T, Oertel W, Dauvilliers Y, Ju YE, Puligheddu M, Sonka K, Pelletier A, Santamaria J, Frauscher B, Leu-Semenescu S, Zucconi M, Terzaghi M, Miyamoto M, Unger MM, Carlander B, Fantini ML, Montplaisir JY. Risk factors for neurodegeneration in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a multicenter study. Ann Neurol. 2015 May;77(5):830-9.
Ferini-Strambi L. Possible role of orexin in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. JAMA Neurol. 2014 Dec;71(12):1478-80.
Castronovo V, Scifo P, Castellano A, Aloia MS, Iadanza A, Marelli S, Cappa SF, Ferini-Strambi L, Falini A. White matter integrity in obstructive sleep apnea before and after treatment. Sleep. 2014 Sep 1;37(9):1465-75.
Frauscher B, Jennum P, Ju YE, Postuma RB, Arnulf I, Cochen De Cock V, Dauvilliers Y, Fantini ML, Ferini-Strambi L, Gabelia D, Iranzo A, Leu-Semenescu S, Mitterling T, Miyamoto M, Miyamoto T, Montplaisir JY, Oertel W, Pelletier A, Prunetti P, Puligheddu M, Santamaria J, Sonka K, Unger M, Wolfson C, Zucconi M, Terzaghi M, Högl B, Mayer G, Manni R. Comorbidity and medication in REM sleep behavior disorder: a multicenter case-control study. Neurology. 2014 Mar 25;82(12):1076-9.
Ferini-Strambi L. A need for new treatments in narcolepsy. Lancet Neurol. 2013 Nov;12(11):1039-40.
Dauvilliers Y, Postuma RB, Ferini-Strambi L, Arnulf I, Högl B, Manni R, Miyamoto T, Oertel W, Fantini ML, Puligheddu M, Jennum P, Sonka K, Zucconi M, Leu-Semenescu S, Frauscher B, Terzaghi M, Miyamoto M, Unger M, Desautels A, Wolfson C, Pelletier A, Montplaisir J. Family history of idiopathic REM behavior disorder: a multicenter case-control study. Neurology. 2013 Jun 11;80(24):2233-5.
Manconi M, Ferri R, Zucconi M, Bassetti CL, Fulda S, Aricò D, Ferini-Strambi L. Dissociation of periodic leg movements from arousals in restless legs syndrome. Ann Neurol. 2012 Jun;71(6):834-44.
Canessa N, Ferini-Strambi L. Sleep-disordered breathing and cognitive decline in older adults. JAMA. 2011 Aug 10;306(6):654-5.
Oertel W, Trenkwalder C, Beneš H, Ferini-Strambi L, Högl B, Poewe W, Stiasny-Kolster K, Fichtner A, Schollmayer E, Kohnen R, García-Borreguero D. SP710 study group. Long-term safety and efficacy of rotigotine transdermal patch for moderate-to-severe idiopathic restless legs syndrome: a 5-year open-label extension study. Lancet Neurol. 2011 Aug;10(8):710-20.
