Michael J. Fox Foundation Data Aids Maynooth Study On Sleep Issues Among People With Parkinson’s

Friday, 31 January 2025 11:26

By Martin Osborne

Parkinson’s, the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, affects approximately 18,000 people in Ireland and over six million worldwide.

A new study from Maynooth University (MU) has revealed that sleep problems are highly prevalent among people with Parkinson’s disease, significantly impacting their quality of life.

Researchers found that 84% of Parkinson’s patients experience sleep disturbances, contributing to increased depression, reduced independence, and worsening symptoms during “OFF periods” when medication effects wear off.

The study, led by PhD candidate Ziba Asadpoordezaki and Professors Dr Beverley Henley and Andrew Coogan, analysed data from over 38,000 patients collected by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

In 1998, Fox, who played Marty McFly in Back To The Future, disclosed his 1991 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson’s, the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, affects approximately 18,000 people in Ireland and over six million worldwide.

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