Chronobiological aspects of autonomic nervous system function in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review

Disruption of biological rhythms appears to play a role in Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to summarize findings, focusing on measurement tools and outcomes, from studies assessing dysautonomia in PD from a chronobiological perspective. We searched Pubmed and Embase in English and included 76 articles following PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-four-hour Blood Pressure Measurement (24 h ABPM) was the most popular method for assessing chronobiological changes of autonomic function in PD. Reverse blood pressure (BP) dipping, i.e. increase in nighttime systolic BP, was a common finding in PD regardless of disease stage. Most studies using 24 h ambulatory electrocardiogram (24 h ECG) recording or night polysomnography showed attenuated heart rate variability (HRV) in PD patients during both daytime and nighttime. This reduction of HRV seems to occur early in the disease course and to be more profound in more severe PD. Only a few studies used scales and/or diaries or wearable technology for assessing autonomic function in PD. Long-term monitoring methods, such as 24-h ECG and 24-h ABPM, along with advancements in wearable multisensory devices, offer promising tools for continuously tracking fluctuations of autonomic function over extended periods. These approaches provide more comprehensive insights into the autonomic dysregulation and its management in PD.