Daily Fatigue, Sleepiness, and Pain Patterns in People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their Caregivers
Faculty Mentor
Elena Crooks
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-14-2026 9:00 AM
End Date
4-14-2026 11:00 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Physical Therapy
Abstract
BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Nonmotor symptoms in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) include drowsiness, sleep disruption, and pain. The presence of these symptoms in caregivers of people with ALS (cALS) remains unknown. This pilot study aimed to determine the pattern of these symptoms among people with ALS (pALS) and cALS. METHODS: Participants included five pALS (62.2 ± 12.0 years, 33.2 ± 24.1 months since diagnosis) and their cALS (53.8 ± 20.9 years). Sleepiness, fatigue, pain, and pain interference were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) four times daily for 7 consecutive days. Sleepiness was also assessed by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Descriptive statistics and mixed effects ANOVA (group x time) were conducted using SPSS v29. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction of group by time for sleepiness (VAS: p=0.01, KSS: p<0.001) and pain interference (p<0.001), and a trend toward a significant group by time interaction for fatigue and pain (p=0.08 for both). For sleepiness, fatigue, and pain, both groups experienced a peak intensity in the morning and late evening hours, with a less pronounced fluctuation in pALS. For pain interference, peak intensity was in the morning for pALS, and in the evening for cALS. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal that sleepiness, fatigue, pain, and pain interference all changed by time of day in a different pattern for pALS than for cALS, with a typical circadian pattern among cALS, yet little fluctuation within pALS.
Recommended Citation
Simpson, Jocelyn, "Daily Fatigue, Sleepiness, and Pain Patterns in People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their Caregivers" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 7.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/ps_2026/p1_2026/7
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Daily Fatigue, Sleepiness, and Pain Patterns in People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their Caregivers
PUB NCR
BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Nonmotor symptoms in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) include drowsiness, sleep disruption, and pain. The presence of these symptoms in caregivers of people with ALS (cALS) remains unknown. This pilot study aimed to determine the pattern of these symptoms among people with ALS (pALS) and cALS. METHODS: Participants included five pALS (62.2 ± 12.0 years, 33.2 ± 24.1 months since diagnosis) and their cALS (53.8 ± 20.9 years). Sleepiness, fatigue, pain, and pain interference were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) four times daily for 7 consecutive days. Sleepiness was also assessed by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Descriptive statistics and mixed effects ANOVA (group x time) were conducted using SPSS v29. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction of group by time for sleepiness (VAS: p=0.01, KSS: p<0.001) and pain interference (p<0.001), and a trend toward a significant group by time interaction for fatigue and pain (p=0.08 for both). For sleepiness, fatigue, and pain, both groups experienced a peak intensity in the morning and late evening hours, with a less pronounced fluctuation in pALS. For pain interference, peak intensity was in the morning for pALS, and in the evening for cALS. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal that sleepiness, fatigue, pain, and pain interference all changed by time of day in a different pattern for pALS than for cALS, with a typical circadian pattern among cALS, yet little fluctuation within pALS.
