Troubles du sommeil et démences

At present, probable aetiological diagnosis of dementia is based on clinical and paraclinical examinations and treatments are symptomatic. It is important, in patient with dementia, to identify factors that could direct to aetiological diagnosis and to interventions to slow cognitive decline. Disturbed sleep may be one of these factors. Sleep disturbance in dementia is probably multifactorial and the present data support the fact that pathological lesions act directly on sleep regulation system, although interpretation of clinico-pathological correlation is difficult. it is now possible to distinguish sleep disturbances in tauopathies and synucleinopathies. Moreover, effects of disturbed sleep on cognition and behaviour are of major importance in patients with dementia, disrupted sleep is a significant cause of stress for caregivers, and of psychotropes consumption and of entry an institutionalisation in patients. These sleep disturbances are treatabte but the efficacy is uncertain. Thus sleep studies in dementia not only have a therapeutic interest, but may also have a diagnostic value.