Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine

Update on RLS 2026 Part 1

Since our last podcast on restless legs 2 years ago, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has published new clinical guidelines and the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation has revised their management algorithm.  These three podcasts update us on the changes in treatment of this common and distressing condition.  In the first podcast, we discuss iron and gabapentin opioid therapy.
 

Does Sleep Apnea Lead to Parkinson’s Disease?

A recent article suggested that obstructive sleep apnea was a possible risk factor for Parkinson's disease.  In this podcast, we discuss this important study and its implications, as well as the more general assessment of increasingly available similar studies based on large population data bases.

The Weird World of Sleep in Autoimmune Encephalopathies: Part 2

Autoimmune encephalopathies, although rare, can mimic other more common sleep disorders and most are highly treatable.  Therefore it is important for sleep medicine practitioners to be aware of these conditions, which may present first to a sleep clinic.  This podcast describes how these disorders may present with important insights for sleep specialists.

The Weird World of Sleep in Autoimmune Encephalopathies: Part 1

Autoimmune encephalopathies, although rare, can mimic other more common sleep disorders and most are highly treatable.  Therefore it is important for sleep medicine practitioners to be aware of these conditions, which may present first to a sleep clinic.  This podcast describes how these disorders may present with important insights for sleep specialists.

Sleep and Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures, especially in certain epileptic syndromes, are more common during sleep.  Conversely, seizures can disturb sleep, affecting daytime alertness.  Nocturnal seizures may also mimic the parasomnias that are more familiar to sleep medicine practitioners.  This podcast discusses practical aspects of these relationships.

Sleep in Multiple System Atrophy

While less common than its cousin, Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy is commonly associated with severe sleep disturbances, at least one of which may be life threatening. In this podcast we discuss how to identify these disorders, their significance and management.

Nocturnal Hallucinations

Hallucinations at night may be frightening and distressing.  Some may indeed indicate serious disease but most are harmless.  In this podcast we discussed different types of nocturnal hallucinations, their causes and the conditions with which they may be confused.

Sleep Disordered Breathing in ALS

Sleep specialists are often asked to initiate non-invasive ventilation for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The guest on our podcast today, Dr. Peter Gay, a world expert in this area, provides very helpful practical information to guide this process.