(SOURCE: Emory University, news release, Aug. 20, 2012) FRIDAY,
Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Getting a good night's sleep can
help improve memory in people with Parkinson's disease,
according to a small new study. Along with symptoms such as
tremors and slow movements, people with Parkinson's disease also
can have problems with working memory, which is the ability to
temporarily store and use information. Working memory is
important in planning, problem solving and independent living,
the study authors noted. This study of 54 Parkinson's patients
found that they performed much better on a test of working
memory after they'd had a good night's sleep. It also found that
sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can harm working memory. The
boost in working memory was linked to the amount of slow-wave
sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep, said the
researchers, from Emory University in Atlanta. Previous studies
have found that slow-wave sleep is important for the ability of
brain cells to reorganize and make new c