Ask the MD
A good night’s sleep is the foundation for everything we do, but for many people, especially those who live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), good sleep is often elusive.
If you live with Parkinson’s, you might have trouble falling sleep, or insomnia; wake up during the night or too early in the morning; act out your dreams while asleep, known as REM sleep behavior disorder; or snore or stop breathing for short pauses, which could be sleep apnea.
The problem is, sleeping well has an impact on life, and life with Parkinson’s. It can help ease symptoms, as well as encourage other healthy behaviors, like exercising and eating well, that can help manage the disease. It also determines how we move through the day and how much or how little energy, patience and focus we have.
So how can you improve the sleep you’re getting with Parkinson’s? Watch our new video with the five ways to invite better sleep into your life.
Or, if you want to watch the full video later, skip to the following sections:
While there are treatments that can help your sleep, determined in consultation with your doctor, there are also many things you can do yourself to encourage good sleep, from the moment you wake up in the morning and throughout the day. This video outlines the five steps you can take now, to invite good sleep – and let you live your best life daily.
Help researchers understand the connection between sleep and brain health. REM sleep behavior disorder or RBD can be one of the first symptoms of Parkinson's, occurring years before a diagnosis. Ongoing smell loss can be another early indicator. Our landmark PPMI study is examining risk factors and planning for Parkinson's prevention. Learn more.
Ask the MD has been made possible through the leadership of members of our Parkinson's Disease Education Consortium in conjunction with the Albert B. Glickman Parkinson's Disease Education Program. These partners' support allows us to furnish high-quality educational content to the Parkinson's community while maintaining our commitment to allocate donor dollars to high-impact research. Editorial control of all Michael J. Fox Foundation-published content rests solely with the Foundation.