Physiological movements during sleep in healthy adults across all ages: a video-polysomnographic analysis of non-codified movements reveals sex differences and distinct motor patterns

• Published in: Sleep (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2024-09, Vol.47 (9), p.1
• Main Authors: Montini, Angelica, Loddo, Giuseppe, Zenesini, Corrado, Mainieri, Greta, Baldelli, Luca, Mignani, Francesco, Mondini, Susanna, Provini, Federica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Analysis; Physiological aspects; Political activity; Political aspects; Sleep; Sleep Across the Lifespan; Sleep disorders
• ISSN: 0161-8105; 1550-9109; 1550-9109
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae138

to define sleep-related movements in healthy adults according to sex and age. sleep-related movements from 50 video-polysomnography (vPSG) recordings of 27 men and 23 women, from 20 to 70 years old, were classified according to ICDS-3-TR and AASM criteria (codified movements); the remaining movements (non-codified movements) were described according to type (elementary movements-EMs or complex movements-CMs), topography (focal, segmental, multifocal or generalized) and, if present, were assigned to motor patterns (MPs). of 4057 movements analyzed, 54.6% (2216/4057) were non-codified (1861 CMs, 355 EMs) and 1841 were codified. CMs were mainly generalized (70%) while EMs were multifocal (40%) or focal (30%). The median movement index (MI; movement/hour) was 11 and the median duration was 4 s. MI decreased from stages N1/REM>N2>N3; men showed a higher MI. An MP was assigned to 2204 codified and non-codified movements, mainly stretching (50%) and scratching (30%). Stretching increased in REM sleep while food-carrying behaviors increased in N2. Men showed more food-carrying behaviors, changes of body positions and comfort movements while stretching was more common in women. Younger subjects exhibited more food-carrying behaviors, while scratching and stretching were more prevalent in the middle-aged group. Older subjects showed more changes in body positions and comfort movements. 54.6% of sleep-related movements in healthy subjects were non-codified and characterized by motor sequences that can configure MPs. Our comprehensive classification method allows a detailed description of the physiological movements underlying differential motor control during sleep stages influenced by age and sex.