Sleep disorders in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting both the central and peripheral nervous system. The median survival rate for ALS patients after symptom onset is 2.5 to 3.5 years and after diagnosis of ALS is about 1.5 to 2.5 years. Patients with ALS can have a wide spectrum of sleep disorders including but not limited to insomnia, sleep related breathing disorders, parasomnias, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nocturnal hypoventilation (NH). Sleep-related breathing disorders substantially increase both morbidity and mortality in ALS patients. In this review, we have discussed the ALS motor symptoms, sleep-related breathing disorders, behavioral abnormalities and sleep disturbing factors which impair the health-related quality of life