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Session Schedule

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0:00:00
Introduction

0:01:20
Autonomic dysregulation and neurodegeneration: HRV mesurements in REM sleep, RSWA and RBD
Monica Puligheddu (Italy)

0:20:25
Cross-sectional presentation of sleep microstructure in sleep disorders with major implications to pathophysiology and autonomic interplay
Ivana Rosenzweig (United Kingdom)

0:39:20
Cardiac autonomic modulation in adolescents: Impact of sleep irregularity, continuity, and depth
Julio Fernandez-Mendoza (United States)

1:04:15
Autonomic dysfunction in restless legs syndrome: Insights Into underlying mechanisms
Chenini Sofiène (France)

1:25:00
Question and answer

Summary

The complex relationship between the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and sleep has garnered growing attention recently, with Heart Rate Variability (HRV) emerging as a valuable biomarker for autonomic function. Autonomic alterations are known to play a critical role in various sleep disorders, including those associated with neurodegeneration, insomnia, and pediatric sleep disturbances. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), often linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, has been shown to involve distinct patterns of autonomic dysfunction. Similarly, insomnia and RLS are associated with altered ANS regulation, contributing to fragmented sleep and impaired recovery. In children, conditions like obstructive sleep apnea or parasomnias may also manifest with autonomic imbalances, with potential implications for long-term health and development. Despite the significant clinical impact, there remains a need to integrate knowledge from various fields, including sleep medicine, cardiology, neurology, and pediatrics, to fully understand the mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities associated with HRV and ANS in sleep disorders. This symposium aims to bring together leading experts to explore the interplay between HRV, autonomic alterations, and sleep disorders across different life stages and clinical conditions. Discussions will focus on the physiological underpinnings, diagnostic advancements, and implications for personalized management strategies.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this CME activity, participants will be able to:
• Discuss the role of HRV as a biomarker in understanding autonomic dysfunction in sleep disorders, including RBD, insomnia, RLS, and pediatric conditions
• Highlight emerging research on the pathophysiological connections between autonomic alterations and neurodegeneration in the context of sleep
• Explore advanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches targeting autonomic dysfunction in sleep medicine
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration for future research and clinical innovation
• Explore the interconnection between autonomic dysregulation and neurodegeneration
• Analyze HRV analysis during sleep: a new tool for measurements
• HRV alterations during REM sleep as a biomarker of neurodegeneration
• Explore differential impact of pathology that underlies several major sleep disorders, to present its impact on sleep microstructure, and to propose the mechanistic interplay of this putative bidirectional relationship
• Each domain listed pertains to sleep timing and irregularity (actigraphy), insomnia (self-report) and sleep duration (actigraphy & PSG), and sleep depth (odds ratio product [ORP]) and cortical arousability (ORP-9)
• Identify the pathophysiological mechanisms of interrelation between the autonomic system and LM, PLM, and RLS
• Assess the autonomic effects and consequences of RLS and PLM across different stages of life
• Establish an appropriate therapeutic approach and prevention