About the Course

Sleep disturbances are extremely common in Lewy body dementia (LBD), affecting up to 90% of individuals over the course of the disease. These sleep-related changes can significantly impact cognition, mood, safety, and quality of life—not only for the person living with LBD, but also for care partners and family members.

The course introduces the most common sleep disorders seen in LBD, including REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. Participants will learn how these sleep disturbances present, how they are identified or diagnosed, and evidence-based strategies to manage them. The session also emphasizes when and how to seek support from healthcare professionals, including discussions around medications and other interventions that may help. This course is designed to empower individuals living with LBD and their care partners with knowledge, validation, and practical tools to improve sleep and overall quality of life.

Course curriculum

    1. Course Introduction & Learning Objectives

    2. About the Presenter: Bhavana Patel, DO

    3. Sleep Diary PDF

    1. Lesson 1: Description & Learning Objectives

    2. Lesson 1: Sleep Disorders in LBD Handout

    3. Video Lesson: Intro Through Common Sleep Disturbances

    1. Lesson 2: Description & Learning Objectives

    2. Video Lesson: REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)

    1. Lesson 3: Description & Learning Objectives

    2. Video Lesson: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

    1. Lesson 4: Description & Learning Objectives

    2. Video Lesson: Insomnia

    1. Lesson 5: Description & Learning Objectives

    2. Video Lesson: Restless Leg Syndrome

About this course

  • Free
  • 0.5 hours of video content

Meet Your Instructors

Bhavana Patel, DO

Bhavana Patel, DO, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Movement Disorders and Behavioral Neurology at the University of Florida and joined the UF Department of Neurology and Fixel Institute in 2017. She completed medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, neurology residency at the University of Kansas, and fellowship training in movement disorders, cognitive disorders, and dementias at UF. Dr. Patel has a personal connection to Lewy body dementia (LBD) and specializes in improving care delivery for people living with LBD.