Periodic limb movements in sleep and clinicomorphological features of cerebral small vessel disease

Abstract

To search for the association between white matter deterioration extend as well as related cognitive dysfunction and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Thirty-four subjects with cSVD were enrolled (12 men, 22 women, average age 66.9 y.o.). The study protocol includes nocturnal actigraphy, cardiorespiratory monitoring, cognitive assessment and brain MRI. Two groups were formed depending on PLMS index. The patients of the main group had PLMS index equal or more than 15 movements per hour, and the controls had PLMS index less than 15. The significant differences between groups are shown in the executive functioning (p=0.0025 for the Frontal Assessment battery, p=0.036 for TMT-B, p=0.009 for TMT-A) and in the volume of juxtacortical white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (p=0.009). The positive correlation of PLMS features with total and periventricular volume of WMH and the negative correlation of PLMS features with cognitive performance are found as well.