Synchronizing Clocks: Exploring Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Parkinson's Disease

Circadian rhythms and sleep disturbances are deeply intertwined with the progression and management of Parkinson’s disease (PD). These disruptions are increasingly recognized not only as debilitating symptoms but also as contributors to disease progression and potential early indicators of its onset. Understanding how Parkinson’s disease affects biological clocks—and how these clocks influence PD progression—offers exciting opportunities for early diagnosis, personalized therapies, and improved patient outcomes.

Recent advances in research have begun to uncover the critical role of circadian dysfunction and sleep disturbances in shaping both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, including cognitive decline, mood disorders, and autonomic dysfunction. However, questions remain about how to fully leverage circadian science and sleep biology to improve clinical outcomes. This special collection seeks to integrate fundamental discoveries, translational studies, and clinical applications to drive forward innovative solutions for managing and understanding PD.

We invite submissions addressing the following key themes:

• Mechanistic insights: Studies exploring how disruptions in circadian rhythms contribute to neurodegeneration and symptom progression in PD.
• Biomarkers: Research identifying circadian or sleep-related biomarkers, such as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), neurophysiological signals or other biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease tracking, or subtyping.
• Therapeutic innovations: Novel treatments targeting circadian regulation or sleep disorders, including light therapy, pharmacological approaches, deep brain stimulation or behavioral strategies.
• Chronotherapeutics: Optimization of treatment timing (e.g., medication, deep brain stimulation) based on circadian principles to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
• Wearable technologies: Applications of wearable devices or telemonitoring tools for tracking circadian rhythms, sleep disturbances, and their impact on symptoms.
• Motor and non-motor symptoms: Investigations into how circadian and sleep disruptions influence motor impairments, cognitive function, mood disorders, and autonomic symptoms.
• Predictive modeling: Using circadian and sleep metrics to predict disease progression and treatment responses.
• Environmental and lifestyle factors: Exploring the effects of light exposure, physical activity, and other external influences on circadian regulation and patient outcomes.

This collection aims to illuminate the complex relationships between circadian rhythms, sleep, neurophysiology and Parkinson’s disease. By fostering collaboration across basic, clinical, and translational research, it seeks to inspire new approaches that bridge scientific understanding with actionable clinical advancements. The ultimate goal is to translate these discoveries into meaningful improvements in diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disease.