Sleep disorders
Many sleeping problems are common and harmless. But sometimes, it can be an early clue that something in the brain isn’t working as it should.
Neurological sleep disorders are conditions that affect how the brain controls sleep and wake cycles. These conditions can cause unusual, worrying, or even dangerous symptoms during the night or while awake.
There are many types of sleep disorders, from difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia) to less common conditions like narcolepsy and parasomnias that include acting out dreams or night-time wandering.
Recognizing, assessing and treating sleeping disorders is vital. Not only is sleep essential for brain repair and memory, but some sleep problems can be early signs of conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, appearing long before other symptoms
Below are some sleep symptoms to pay attention to, especially if they happen frequently or seem to be increasing.
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) – trouble falling or staying asleep, even when tired
- Daytime sleepiness – feeling very drowsy or sleepy during the day, or suddenly falling asleep in unusual situations or “sleep attacks”
- Sleep paralysis – being unable to move or speak when falling asleep or waking up
- Unusual dreams or nightmares – including vivid or intense dreams, dreaming after waking up or before falling asleep, and nightmares
- Acting out dreams – such as shouting, kicking or moving violently during dreams, often without remembering
- Restless legs syndrome – strange sensations in your legs like creeping, crawling or tingling, with a strong urge to move, especially at night
- Confusion or wandering at night (sleepwalking) – waking up disoriented, talking nonsense, or walking around without awareness
- Breathing problems – l oud snoring, gasping, choking or long pauses in breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
- Feeling tired after sleep – sleeping for many hours but still waking up tired, foggy or confused
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it's important to seek specialist advice. Some sleep disorders can carry serious risks, but there are effective treatments and techniques to manage them.
In some cases, changes in the brain may be behind sleep issues. At Affidea neuraCare, we look at how neurological conditions can affect your ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or feel refreshed after rest.
Here are some of the main types of sleep disorders that may have a neurological cause:
Insomnia
Often seen as trouble falling or staying asleep, insomnia can be linked to how the brain regulates alertness and rest. Chronic insomnia is commonly triggered by stress or anxiety, but it can sometimes result from a physical or neurological health condition.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a condition where the brain struggles to control sleep-wake cycles. People may suddenly fall asleep during the day or have vivid dreams and paralysis when waking up. It’s often linked to a lack of a brain chemical called hypocretin that helps regulate sleep.
Circadian rhythm disorders
These occur when the brain’s internal clock is out of sync with day and night. This can happen due to neurological damage, head injury, or in conditions that affect the hypothalamus and pineal gland, which are parts of the brain that control sleep timing.
Parasomnias
These are unusual behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking or talking. Some parasomnias happen when the brain doesn’t transition smoothly between sleep stages.
REM sleep behavior disorder is where the body fails to stay still during REM (dream) sleep. It can involve shouting, kicking, or acting out dreams and may be an early sign of Parkinson’s or other neurodegenerative diseases.
Hypersomnia
Hypersomnia means excessive sleepiness or sleeping for unusually long periods. This occurs when the brain’s ability to stay awake is disrupted. It can be a symptom of another sleep disorder, or may be linked to neurological conditions or a brain injury.
Restless legs syndrome
Thought to involve brain pathways that use dopamine (a brain chemical), restless legs syndrome creates strong urges to move, often disturbing sleep. It’s more common in people with Parkinson’s or peripheral nerve disorders.
Secondary causes
Many neurological conditions can disturb sleep, sometimes long before other signs appear.
These include:
- Alzheimer’s – can disrupt sleep cycles and cause confusion at night
- Parkinson’s – can trigger vivid dreams, movement during sleep, and restless legs
- Epilepsy – may cause night-time seizures that affect sleep quality
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – often linked with fatigue and altered sleep cycles
- Traumatic brain injury – can damage sleep–wake control systems in the brain leading to conditions such as hypersomnia (extreme difficulty staying awake during the day)
- Sleep apnoea – while often a physical issue, can also result from neurological damage that affects breathing control
At Affidea neuraCare, our specialist neurologists diagnose and treat sleep disorders and their related neurological conditions.
While many sleep issues are temporary, those related to the brain are often more persistent and disruptive. Some neurological conditions can cause serious sleep problems, and in some cases, chronic sleeping problems may even increase the risk of certain brain disorders.
Our specialists take a holistic, brain-focused approach to care. With the right diagnosis and treatment, we can help improve your sleep, protect your brain health, and support your overall wellbeing.
If your sleep symptoms are unusual, persistent, or affecting your quality of life, it’s important to find out why. At Affidea neuraCare, we offer detailed assessments to understand what’s going on and whether there is a neurological cause.
Getting the right diagnosis is the first step toward better sleep. It also helps us spot signs of underlying conditions, which often benefit from early treatment.
Initial assessment
The first step is a detailed consultation with a neurologist, where they aim to build a full picture of your sleeping problems and your overall neurological health.
This typically includes:
- A discussion about your symptoms and medical history, including any medications you take and your general lifestyle
- An overnight sleep study called polysomnography that measures brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate and movement, which may be at home or in-clinic
- A daytime multiple sleep latency test that measures how quickly you fall asleep in quiet situations, often used for diagnosing narcolepsy
- Actigraphy, a wrist-worn device that tracks movement and light exposure to monitor sleep-wake cycles over several days
- Blood tests to check your overall health and for possible physical causes, such as thyroid disorders
For some people, these initial checks can provide reassurance or highlight a simple, treatable cause. If the results suggest a more complex picture, further investigations are often recommended.
Further investigations
If other conditions have been ruled out, you may have further tests and scans to explore the underlying cause in more depth. Learn more about specialist diagnostic tests we use at Affidea neuraCare.
