Nighttime Behavior Research Articles

Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Assessed Nighttime Behavior Accompanies, but Does Not Precede, Progressive Cognitive Decline Independent of Alzheimer's Disease Histopathology.

The relationship between sleep, neuropathology, and clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains controversial. To determine whether nighttime behaviors (NTB) are associated with the development of AD histopathology or cognitive decline. We compared NTB prevalence in subjects with or without AD lesions, and with or without progressive cognitive decline. Subjects with either absent or severe plaques and tangles were identified from the National Alzheimer's Disease Coordinating Center data sets and classified as cognitively declining if the standard deviation from their individual mean Mini-Mental Status Examination score was ≥2, and stable if <2 regardless of their initial score. NTB was assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire Quick Version (NPI-Q). NTB was significantly greater in decliners than stable subjects in the group with severe histopathology as determined by frequent plaques (p = 0.003) or high Braak stage (p = 0.002). A similar significant trend was observed in subjects with absent plaques (p = 0.019) or tangles (p = 0.006). The prevalence of NTB was comparable between stable AD and non-AD subjects. NTB severity scores showed a similar pattern. The development of NTB as assessed by NPI-Q in subjects with or without AD lesions occurred concurrently with cognitive decline. Among cognitively stable subjects, the presence of AD histopathology did not alter NTB prevalence. Thus, NTB disruptions at the gross granularity level assessed by NPI-Q were much more closely related to cognitive decline than the formation of pathological lesions. Factors other than AD histopathology may mediate the association between NTB and cognitive decline.

Using a Rocking Chair in the Care of People with Dementia: A Single-Case Research Study

The people with dementia experience a progressive loss of cognition, while more than 90% of them develop behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). BPSD may result in physical injuries and psychological distress among people with dementia and their family/caregivers. First-line care strategies in dementia care should not unthinkingly involve pharmacological interventions to avert or reduce the behavior, and should rather consider the person and their unique requirements. Therefore, a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is strongly recommended. Since the care staff in dementia care is required to be informed regarding the non-pharmacological approaches to address BPSD, the present study was aimed to evaluate the use of a rocking chair in the context of BPSD, quality of life, and medication usage among people with dementia at individual level. The secondary aim of the present study was to describe care staff’s experiences related to the feasibility and usability of rocking chair in providing care for PwD in a nursing home setting. The present research is a single-case study, performed using a mixed-methods approach, with six people having dementia and 11 care staff members in a nursing home setting. The people with dementia used the ErgoNova Rocking chair® for a mean number of five times/week, for eight weeks in total. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected prior to, during, and post-intervention (A-B-A design). The quantitative and qualitative data were consistent with each other. The mean, median, and relative change measures indicated a decrease in the BPSD symptoms, such as aberrant motor behavior, agitation, apathy, depression, irritability, and night-time behavior disturbances, and increased quality of life upon using the ErgoNova Rocking chair®. It was also considered to be feasible, usable, and non-labor-intensive intervention by the care staff. The obtained data suggested that the use of ErgoNova Rocking chair® provided short-term relief from aberrant motor behavior, agitation, apathy, depression, irritability, and night-time behavior disturbances, along with an increase in the quality of life of the person with dementia. The use of ErgoNova Rocking chair® may serve as a complementary tool to the non-pharmacological management techniques for people with dementia in nursing homes.

Associated factors of suicidal ideation among older persons with dementia living at home in eight European countries

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of suicidal ideation and associated factors in older persons with dementia living at home in eight European countries, and its association with quality of life. Furthermore, changes in suicidal ideation over time were investigated. Methods This cohort study (n = 1,223) was part of the European “RightTimePlaceCare” project conducted in 2010–2013. Participating countries were Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Baseline and follow-up data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results The occurrence of suicidal ideation in the participating countries varied between 6% and 24%. Factors significantly (p < 0.0018) associated with suicidal ideation using bivariate analysis were: nationality, depressive symptoms, delusions, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, apathy, disinhibition, irritability, night-time behaviour disturbances, anxiolytics and anti-dementia medication. In the multivariate regression analysis, country of origin, moderate stage of the dementia, depressive and delusional symptoms, and anti-dementia medication were significantly associated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). Over time, suicidal ideation decreased from severe to mild or became absent in 54% of the persons with dementia. Conclusion It is essential that professionals identify older persons with dementia and suicidal ideation and depressive and other psychological symptoms in order to give them appropriate treatment and provide relief for their informal caregivers. We emphasize the importance of identifying suicidal ideation, irrespective of depressive symptoms, and specifically of paying attention to persons with moderate dementia. Living with the informal caregiver seems to be associated with staying stable without suicidal ideation.

Therapeutic management of major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease*

Background. According to a meta-analysis conducted by S. Gauthier (2015), Cerebrolysin® was significantly superior to placebo at 4 weeks and 6 months in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD), while its safety was comparable to placebo. Data from translational research support a decrease in synaptic and behavioral deficits in mice undergoing Cerebrolysin® injections, due to various effects over signaling regulation, control of APP metabolism and expression of neurotrophic factors. Combining Cerebrolysin® with cholinesterase inhibitors indicated synergistic effects in the long-term treatment for mild-to-moderate AD. Clinical presentation. We present the case report of a 66-year-old female patient diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder due to AD (probable), according to the DSM-5 criteria, who had memory, complex attention, executive function and learning deficits for at least two years prior to her first psychiatric evaluation. A thorough workup for differential diagnosis was carried out, and there were identified no data in favor of a cerebrovascular disease, folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid disorder, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, HIV or other infectious diseases, chronic use of alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics or inhalants, repeated cerebral traumas, demyelinating disorders, or brain tumor. No significant abnormal values were found during routine blood analyses, except for elevated levels of cholesterol. The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) reflected low scores on multiple domains (e.g., word recall, naming objects and fingers, word recognition). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was 17, and the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) reflected high scores on anxiety, irritability, and nighttime behaviors. Cerebrolysin® was initiated concomitantly with rivastigmine patches, memantine and trazodone. At the 3-month visit, MMSE and ADAS-Cog scores stabilized, and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) values showed a slight trend for improvement. NPI scores decreased significantly on all three dimensions previously mentioned. Conclusions. Cerebrolysin® was well tolerated and it may be administered together with other nootropics due to its lack of CYP450 interactions. It may be useful in stabilizing overall cognitive status in moderate AD.

The effect of a nighttime zoo event on spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) behavior

AbstractThe relationship between zoo animals, particularly nonhuman primates, and visitors is complex and varies by species. Adding complexity to this relationship is the trend for zoos to host events outside of normal operating hours. Here, we explored whether a late-night haunted-house style event influenced the behavior of spider monkeys. We conducted behavioral observations both on event nights and nights without the event. The spider monkeys were active and outside more frequently on event nights compared to the control nights indicating that their typical nighttime behavior was altered. However, it is difficult to definitively conclude whether the behavioral changes were a result of the event being aversive or enriching. Our findings suggest that zoos should conduct behavioral observations of and collect physiological data from their animals, especially if they are sensitive to environmental changes, when implementing new events, including those occurring outside of normal operating hours to ensure high levels of animal welfare.

Nighttime Swimming Behavior of a Mesopelagic Fish

Nocturnal migration of mesopelagic fish into surface waters is well-documented. Yet, although there is increasing evidence of individual-based deviations from average population migrations and of the importance of small-scale individual behavior for predator-prey interactions and energetic cycling, little is known about what mesopelagic animals do when in upper waters. Using high-resolution data from an upward-facing, moored, split-beam echosounder we analyzed the night-time individual vertical swimming behavior of pearlsides (Maurolicus muelleri) over one winter. The population behavior is characterized by migration to the surface after sunset, “midnight-sinking” and another migration to the surface in the morning, followed by return to the daytime habitat. Focusing on individuals unveiled diverse behavioral patterns during different phases of the migration. After ascending to upper layers at dusk, M. muelleri leaves the surface waters, not by sinking, but by actively swimming in a step-wise pattern characterized by relocations alternated by pauses. Following the descent, vertical swimming is sustained at lower levels. Around midnight, the vertical swimming direction changes from predominantly downwards to upwards. Several hours before dawn, the fish start ascending towards the surface in a step-wise pattern. During population ascent in the afternoon and descent in the morning, some individuals at the fringes of schools migrate without intermittent pauses. This study documents the feasibility of using submerged, stationary echosounders in unveiling the individual behavior of mesopelagic fish.

DYADIC FACTORS THAT ASSOCIATE WITH INSOMNIA IN CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Insomnia is prevalent in caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD); however, more research is needed to identify which dyadic factors most impact caregiver sleep. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with caregiver insomnia in the baseline component of a randomized clinical trial. A linear regression was conducted with caregiver variables (e.g., depression), and PLWD variables (e.g., disruptive nighttime behaviors) as independent variables in relation to insomnia, as assessed with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Caregivers (n=49) were on average 63 years, mostly female (65.3%), White (69.4%), and spouses (65.3%). Mean ISI was 6.8, indicating mild-to-moderately disturbed sleep. Multiple linear regression (F(11,32) = 13.4, p<.001) showed that both caregiver-based measures (depression, p<.023) and PLWD-based measures (disruptive nighttime behaviors, p<.001) were independently associated with ISI. Ideas about needed multicomponent dyadic interventions which target both PLWD nighttime behaviors, caregiver depression, and sleep disturbances will be discussed.

RESTING HEART RATE MODERATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS, MCI, AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Little is known about how resting heart rate moderates the relationship between neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive status. This study examined the relative risk of NPS on increasingly severe cognitive statuses and examined the extent to which resting heart rate moderates this relationship. A secondary analysis of the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set was undertaken, using observations from participants with normal cognition at baseline (13,470). The relative risk of diagnosis with a more severe cognitive status at a future visit was examined using log-binomial regression for each neuropsychiatric symptom. The moderating effect of resting heart rate among those who are later diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was assessed. Delusions, hallucinations, agitation, depression, anxiety, elation, apathy, disinhibition, irritability, motor disturbance, nighttime behaviors, and appetite disturbance were all significantly associated (p<.001) with an increased risk of AD, and a reduced risk of MCI. Resting heart rate increased the risk of AD but reduced the relative risk of MCI. Depression significantly interacted with resting heart rate to increase the relative risk of MCI (RR: 1.07 (95% CI: 1.00-1.01), p<.001), but not AD. Neuropsychiatric symptoms increase the relative risk of AD but not MCI, which may mean that the deleterious effect of NPS is delayed until later and more severe stages of the disease course. Resting heart rate increases the relative risk of MCI among those with depression. Practitioners considering early intervention in neuropsychiatric symptomology may consider the downstream benefits of treatment considering the long-term effects of NPS.

PREDICTORS OF ATTRITION IN THE MULTI-ETHNIC 1FLORIDA ADRC CLINICAL CORE

Understanding predictors of attrition can position researchers to increase retention efforts and focus on preventing attrition. Attrition, or dropout of participants during a study prior to completion, can threaten the internal and external validity of a study’s findings. Data from the 1FloridaADRC Clinical Core was analyzed, and included 271 participants within a two-year follow-up window, of which 216 (79.7%) were retained. T-tests and chi-square analyses were used to determine if a number of demographic, clinical, acculturation, and neuroimaging predictors were associated with attrition. The participant cohort included: 85% with cognitive impairment; 60% Hispanic; 42% over the age of 75; and 62% female. Predictors of greater attrition included: age over 75 years (p< .003); cognitive diagnosis of MCI or dementia (p< .01); and lower scores on the Mini-Mental Status Exam (p<.04), the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) immediate (p< .02), and delayed (p<.002) Higher total score on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (p<.06), endorsement of night time behaviors (p<.05) and greater hippocampal atrophy (p<.02) were also predictive of attrition. Hispanic ethnicity was not a predictor of attrition, as retention was 81% for Hispanics versus 79% for non-Hispanics. However, among Hispanic participants, English acculturation measured by the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics was lower for those who dropped out (t=2.8; p=.006).

Higher Rates of Sleep Disturbance Among Offspring of Parents With Recurrent Depression Compared to Offspring of Nondepressed Parents.

Youth who have a parent with recurrent depression are at high risk for mental health problems. There is a need to identify transdiagnostic and clinically actionable mechanisms that explain higher rates of psychopathology among high-risk youth. The present study sought to examine whether offspring of depressed parents exhibit greater parent- and self-reported sleep disturbance, shorter sleep duration, and later sleep midpoint compared to youth without any parental psychopathology. Participants included 82 youth, including 41 youth (ages 9-13; mean age = 11.07 years; 46% female) deemed to be at high-risk based on having a parent with a recurrent depression history, and 41 (mean age = 11.16 years; 49% female) at low-risk based on having parents without any history of psychopathology. Youth and their parents completed measures of youth sleep disturbance, and youth completed measures of sleep duration and midpoint using a daily sleep diary for 9 days. Offspring of parents with depression exhibited more sleep disturbance (e.g., problematic nighttime behaviors and daytime sleepiness) than low-risk youth as reported by both parents and youth. For parent-reported sleep disturbance, there were also sex differences. High-risk girls had more sleep disturbance than high-risk boys or low-risk girls. There were no group differences for daily sleep duration and midpoint. Sleep disturbance may be an important area for assessment among offspring of parents with depression. Our findings highlight one potential transdiagnostic risk factor that may emerge among high-risk youth, and sex-specific differences in sleep disturbance, which have implications for prevention and intervention.

Fatigue management for adults living with HIV: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Fatigue is a prevalent symptom for adults living with HIV infection. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to pilot test a behavioral-educational intervention to reduce fatigue. The intervention included education about daytime behaviors as well as nighttime sleep behaviors. Participants were HIV-positive, between 45 and 75 years old, unemployed, and experiencing fatigue. They were randomized to intervention (n = 25) or control (n = 26) after obtaining baseline measures, administered the intervention or attention control, and followed with monthly assessments for 3 months. Primary outcome measures included the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and fatigue symptom burden using the four-dimension structure of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale that includes occurrence, frequency, severity, and distress of a symptom. Other measures included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, step counts with a Fitbit Flex, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Sleep Behavior Rating Scale. Compared with attention controls, the intervention group had significantly (p < .05) lower FSS scores and fatigue symptom burden over time, particularly in the frequency dimension. Secondary outcomes for reducing daytime naps and improving sleep quality were also significant (p < .05). This intervention, focused on both daytime and nighttime behaviors, demonstrated promising effects for reducing fatigue among adults living with HIV. Results provide useful direction for larger clinical trials to reduce fatigue in adults living with other types of chronic illness.

The Sleep of Shelter Dogs Was Not Disrupted by Overnight Light Rather than Darkness in a Crossover Trial

Simple SummaryDogs are often left unattended overnight in shelters. This has led shelter mangers to worry that the dogs were suffering from separation anxiety and, therefore, exhibiting stereotypic or repetitive behaviors such as pacing, barking or digging at exits. Mangers also worried that dogs exposed to light at night were not able to sleep or slept less because some areas of the shelter were lit for security reasons. The ten dogs in this study were walked twice daily and provided with many enrichment devices and music during the day. They were housed in individual rooms each with a window allowing visualization of the dog by the public and vice versa. The dogs slept 10.8 h/night when in darkness and 10.5 h/night when their pens were lightened; there was no significant difference. They exhibited no stereotypic behaviors. They slept in bouts of slightly less than an hour, arising after each bout to stand up and then lie down again. Apparently, these well-stimulated shelter dogs slept soundly in the absence of people.Dogs in shelters may be unattended at night. The purpose of this study is to describe the night-time behavior of dogs in a shelter and to determine if artificial light affected their sleeping patterns. Ten dogs were video-recorded under both light and dark conditions and their behavior recorded using focal animal sampling. The dogs were lying down 649 ± 40 min (mean ± SD) in the light condition and 629 ± 58 min in the dark condition each night. They awoke, stood up, turned around and then lay down again every 48 to 50 min. There was no significant difference in time spent lying between the two conditions (p > 0.05). Light did not seem to affect their behavior. The conclusion is that dogs in shelters may sleep in the absence of people and that light does not disrupt their sleep patterns.

Diurnal motor activity and \u201csunbathing\u201d behaviour in crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata L., 1758)

The crested porcupine is a mainly nocturnal mammal that shows both moonlight avoidance and some diurnal motor activity, the latter as an extension of its night-time foraging behaviour. Furthermore, a peculiar daytime behaviour, described as “sunbathing”, was reported as episodic in H. africaeaustralis. Between 2016 and 2019 a camera-trapping monitoring was performed within 10 porcupine settlements in order to detect the diurnal motor activity and to verify and describe the sunbathing behaviour in crested porcupine. Out of 1,003 trap days, a total of 148 events of diurnal motor activity were recorded. The diurnal motor activity occurred throughout the year mainly between December and June from 15:00 to 16:00, with no statistical difference between cubs, youngsters and adults. The sunbathing behaviour was detected for a total of 36 episodes recorded. Sunbathing was performed mainly by cubs. The sunbathing behaviour occurred only between April and June during the hottest hours of the day (11:00 to 12:00). Diurnal motor activity and sunbathing behaviour of porcupine are discussed in relation to food availability and porcupine physiology.

Associations of informant-based sleep reports with Alzheimer's disease pathologies.

PurposeRecent studies have found associations of increased brain amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation and several abnormal sleep-wake patterns, including shorter latency and increased fragmentation in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There is little known about the relationship between sleep and tau. The objective of this study was to understand the associations of both tau and Aβ with early signs of sleep and night-time behavior changes in clinically normal elderly adults. Specifically, we have addressed the question of how informant-based subjective sleep reports are linked to regional [18F]flortaucipir and [18F]florbetapir uptake.MethodsImaging and behavioral data from 35 subjects were obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Sleep (NPI-sleep) Questionnaire was used to assess the sleep and night-time behavior changes. Regional tau-positron emission tomography (PET) (entorhinal, brainstem) and Aβ-PET (posterior cingulate, precuneus, medial orbitofrontal) uptake values were calculated. A series of linear regression analyses were used to determine the combination of sleep symptoms that built the best models to predict each pathology.ResultsInformant-based reports of abnormal night-time behavior (NPI questions k3, k5, and k8) were significantly associated with increased entorhinal tau and Aβ (all regions) accumulation. Interestingly, informant-based reports of sleep deficiencies without abnormal nigh-time activity (NPI questions k1, k2, and k6) were negatively associated with entorhinal tau burden.ConclusionDetection of abnormal night-time behaviors (wandering, pacing, other inappropriate activities) by family members indicates early signs of both AD pathologies and may encourage the affected individuals to seek help by health care providers for detailed cognitive/neurobehavioral assessments.

P1‐280: COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES AFTER FIRST STROKE

Stroke is a risk factor for dementia. Among 30% of patients who had a stroke develop post stroke dementia within the first year. Post- stroke cognitive impairment prevalence is around 20 to 80% according to different series. After stroke, mood and behavioral changes are also frequent. Symptoms of depression occur in up to one third of patients beginning within the first three months after stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive, mood and behavioral changes after first stroke. First stroke patients were included according to inclusion/ exclusion criteria during a period of 1 year. All were evaluated with the screening test Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) test and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)–Questionnaire within the first three months after stroke. Thirty one patients were recruited. Mean age was 60.16±16.28 years, mean number of years of education was 10±3.49 years and 20 (64.5%) were male. MoCA score ≤25 was found in 13(41.9%) subjects. Three (9.6%) patients reported depression symptoms by BDI. Behavioral symptoms were reported by NPI in 24(77.4%) patients: agitation/aggression 11(45.8%), depression/dysphoria 11(45.8%), nighttime behaviors 11 (45.8%), anxiety 10(41.6%), irritability/lability 9(37.5%). Our patients presented similar prevalence of post stroke cognitive impairment as the described in the literature. Despite the small number of the sample, a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms reported by family members was observed. Particularly, depression presented a low score in the BDI, with a high prevalence in NPI. We will continue extending the sample in order to corroborate these or other results as well as to improve the quality of life in this frequent entity.

Prevalence and correlates of psychotropic drug use in Dutch nursing home patients with young-onset dementia.

ObjectivesNeuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) in dementia patients in nursing homes are common and often treated with psychotropic drugs. Thus far, studies on psychotropic drug use (PDU) mainly focused on elderly patients with dementia. It is important to know the prevalence and correlates of PDU in patients with young‐onset dementia (YOD) to optimize NPS treatment and reduce excess PDU in this group.DesignThe Behavior and Evolution in Young‐Onset Dementia (BEYOnD) study is a cross‐sectional study in 230 residents with YOD in eight nursing homes providing specialized YOD care. PDU was registered from medical charts. The influence of age, gender, severity, and type of dementia, NPS, and agitation on PDU was analyzed.ResultsEighty‐seven percent of the residents used psychotropic drugs, and 47% used two or more psychotropic drugs. No significant associations with age, gender, dementia subtype, and dementia severity were found. Depressive symptoms showed an association with the use of antidepressants, nighttime behavior with use of hypnotics, and verbal agitation with antipsychotics. Apathy was strongly associated with lower PDU.ConclusionsNursing home patients with YOD have a high prevalence of PDU. The association with NPS raises questions of efficacy of these drugs in managing NPS. Patients with apathy had a lower chance of using psychotropics. More research on indications and effects of psychotropic drugs is needed, as well as on (nonpharmacological) alternatives for managing challenging behavior in YOD.

Northern fowl mite infestation affects the nocturnal behavior of laying hens

The northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) is a key pest for caged laying hens. High infestation levels can lead to anemia, reduced production, and mortality. Although the mites cause skin irritation and thus likely affect resting behavior, the nocturnal behavior of infested chickens has not yet been studied. We investigated the impact of mite infestation on nighttime behavior of 16 beak-trimmed White Leghorn hens. The hens were housed individually in wire cages. They were experimentally inoculated with approximately 35 mites at 25 weeks of age and observed for the behaviors dozing, sleeping, preening and being active. Continuous observations were made from video recordings taken from 22:00 h until 06:00 h for two consecutive nights at pre-infestation week 0 and post-infestation weeks 3, 5 and 7. Mite infestation levels were measured weekly on an 8-point scale (0 (no mites) to 7 (≥10,000 mites per hen)). For statistical analyses with linear mixed models, mite infestation levels were categorized as score 0 (no mites), 3–4 (51–500), 5 (501–1000) and 6–7 (>1000). Higher levels of mite infestation were associated with hens spending less time dozing (P < 0.001) and more time preening (P < 0.001) and being active (P = 0.012). Dozing decreased from 90% of the observed time for mite score 0 to 76% for score 6–7. Preening increased from 2% (score 0) to 9% (6–7) and time spent being active increased from 1% (0) to 7% (6–7). Mite infestation increased the number of uninterrupted bouts of all behaviors (P ≤ 0.020), especially dozing and preening (P < 0.001), suggesting restlessness in the mite-infested hens due to irritation and itching. The mite-infested hens’ increased nocturnal activity, including preening, as well as the fragmentation of behavioral activities together with decreased dozing, indicate disturbed resting behavior and suggest a reduction in the welfare of mite-infested hens.

Nesting, sleeping, and nighttime behaviors in wild and captive great apes.

The past few decades have seen a burgeoning of scientific studies on great apes' use of nests for sleeping in the wild, as well as their nesting behavior and sleep in captivity. We review recent advances in knowledge of these topics, with the aim of promoting information exchange between people working in the field and with captive great apes. We trace developments in research into nest-building techniques in adults and immatures, factors that influence selection of general sleeping sites and specific locations, social aspects of sleep, postures, and nighttime activities. We argue that exchanges of information deriving from studies of captive and wild apes are valuable for obtaining a better understanding of sleep-related adaptations in our nearest evolutionary neighbors, and conclude by making some recommendations regarding sleeping arrangements in captivity from a welfare perspective.

Correlates of naptime behaviors in preschool aged children.

Purpose: Major changes in the timing, duration, and function of sleep occur during childhood. These changes include the transition from habitual napping to infrequent napping. This transition is likely to reflect, at least in part, neurocognitive development. This study sought to identify factors that discriminate between four groups of children with different teacher-reported responses to naptime in childcare: those who nap (nappers), sometimes nap (transitioners), do not nap (resters), and neither nap, nor lie still (problem nappers).Methods: Standardized observations of sleep and sleep behaviors, daytime behaviors across a number of domains, and direct neurocognitive assessment of 158 preschool aged children (aged 49–72 months; 54% male) attending childcare centers in Queensland (QLD), Australia, were adopted as part of a large longitudinal study of early childhood, the Effective Early Education Experiences (E4Kids) study. Discriminant function analysis was used to examine how age, parent education, nighttime sleep duration, cognitive functioning, behavior problems, and temperament differentiated the four groups.Results: Three discriminant functions were identified and defined as maturation (strong loadings of nighttime sleep duration, cognitive function, and age), socioeconomic status (parental education), and behavioral problems (externalizing behavior, temperament, and internalizing behavior). These functions accounted for 62.9%, 32.6%, and 4.5% of the between-groups variance, respectively. Children defined as nappers (n=44) had significantly shorter duration of nighttime sleep, were younger, and had lower cognitive functioning scores than did other groups. Problem nappers, (n=25) were more likely to have parents with lower levels of education than did transitioners (n=41). Standard behavior and temperament measures did not significantly differentiate the groups.Conclusion: The findings support an interaction between cognitive development, sleep behaviors, and the individual needs and circumstances of children. Further research in this area could make a strong contribution to theory and practice in early childhood education, and a strong contribution to understanding of children’s development.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Parenting Stress and Social Support in Chinese Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Although little is known about the current situation regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in mainland China, psychiatric disorders are common among Chinese mothers of preschool children with ASD. Previous studies showed ASD child's behavioral symptoms, maternal anxiety, and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with overall parenting stress in northern China. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed medical records at the hospital related to neuropsychiatric symptoms, parenting stress and social support in mothers of children with ASD from southern China. A total of 80 mothers of children with ASD were screened. Among them, 34 mothers were in low-functioning ASD group (L-ASD group) and 46 mothers were in high-functioning ASD group (H-ASD group). Identification of the ASD cases was confirmed with a Revised Autism Diagnostic Inventory. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, parenting stress and social support were measured by neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), parenting stress index short form (PSI-SF), and multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS). Total mean score of the NPI in the L-ASD group was significantly higher than that in the H-ASD group (P<0.01). The subscale scores of NPI, including depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, agitation, night time behavior disturbances and change in appetite were significantly higher in the L-ASD group than those in the H-ASD group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Meanwhile, the total PSI-SF scores and the scores of parental distress (PD), parental-child dysfunctional interaction (PCDI) and difficult child (DC) in the L-ASD group were significantly higher than those in the H-ASD group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The total score of MSPSS was also higher in the L-ASD group than in the H-ASD group (P<0.01). This study goes further to show the neuropsychiatric symptoms and parenting stress are significantly higher in mothers of children with ASD, and more social supports are needed for mothers of children with ASD from southern China, especially for mothers of children with low-functioning ASD.