Rochelle Zak, MD

HS Clinical Professor

Dr. Zak is a neurologist who specializes in sleep medicine. She has a particular interest in Restless Legs Syndrome but sees patients with all types of sleep disorders. She believes that her patients should understand their disease as well as she does and enjoys teaching patients about the causes of sleep disorders. Her research is in the area of mid-life women's sleep and she is actively involved in the generation of evidence-based treatment recommendations by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Education
- Neurology Residence and Sleep Fellowship, New York Hospital
MD, - , UCLA School of Medicine
Publications

  1. Zak R, Zitser J, Jones HJ, Gilliss CL, Lee KA. Sleep symptoms signaling the menopausal transition. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2023. PMID: 37086049


  2. Howell M, Avidan AY, Foldvary-Schaefer N, Malkani RG, During EH, Roland JP, McCarter SJ, Zak RS, Carandang G, Kazmi U, Ramar K. Management of REM sleep behavior disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2022. PMID: 36515157


  3. Howell M, Avidan AY, Foldvary-Schaefer N, Malkani RG, During EH, Roland JP, McCarter SJ, Zak RS, Carandang G, Kazmi U, Ramar K. Management of REM sleep behavior disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2022. PMID: 36515150


  4. Lee KA, Gomez A, Zak RS. Vitamin D deficiency and restless legs syndrome during pregnancy: walking in sunshine? Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2023. PMID: 36377836


  5. Zak RS, Zitser J, Jones HJ, Gilliss CL, Lee KA. Sleep Self-Report and Actigraphy Measures in Healthy Midlife Women: Validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. 2022. PMID: 35230171


  6. Zak RS, Winkelman JW. Sleep questionnaire copyright fees can benefit research: a response to Chiang and Folz. 2021. PMID: 34726232


  7. Zak RS, Lee KA. The glass is half full: gender diversity in sleep medicine award recognition. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2021. PMID: 34047691


  8. Pleasants D, Zak R, Ashbrook LH, Zhang L, Tang C, Tran D, Wang M, Tabatabai S, Leung JM. Processed electroencephalography: impact of patient age and surgical position on intraoperative processed electroencephalogram monitoring of burst-suppression. Journal of clinical monitoring and computing 2021. PMID: 34245405


  9. Rosen CL, Aurora RN, Kapur VK, Ramos AR, Rowley JA, Troester MM, Zak RS. Supporting American Academy of Neurology's new clinical practice guideline on evaluation and management of insomnia in children with autism. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2020. PMID: 32125270


  10. Ruoff L, Jarosiewicz B, Zak R, Tcheng TK, Neylan TC, Rao VR. Sleep disruption is not observed with brain-responsive neurostimulation for epilepsy. Epilepsia open 2020. PMID: 32524041


  11. D. Sharon, R. Allen, P. Martinez-Martin, A. Walters, L. Ferini Strambi, B. Hogl, L.M. Trotti, M. Buchfuhrer, J. Swieca, R. Bogan, R. Zak, J. Hensley, L. Schaefer, S. Marelli, M. Zucconi, A. Stefani, E. Holzknecht, V. Olvera, H. Meaklim, I. Laska, P. Becker, I. Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Validation of the self-administered version of the international restless legs syndrome study group severity rating scale - the sIRLS. Sleep medicine 2019. PMID:


  12. Denise Sharon, Richard P Allen, Pablo Martinez-Martin, Arthur S Walters, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, Birgit Högl, Lynn-Marie Trotti, Mark J Buchfuhrer, John Swieca, Richard K Bogan, Rochelle Zak, Philip M Becker. 0656 Validation of the Self-administered Version of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Severity Rating Scale - the sIRLS. Sleep 2019. PMID:


  13. Sharon D, Allen RP, Martinez-Martin P, Walters AS, Ferini Strambi L, Högl B, Trotti LM, Buchfuhrer M, Swieca J, Bogan RK, Zak R, Hensley JG, Schaefer LA, Marelli S, Zucconi M, Stefani A, Holzknecht E, Olvera V, Meaklim H, Laska I, Becker PM. Validation of the self-administered version of the international Restless Legs Syndrome study group severity rating scale - The sIRLS. Volume 54. Sleep medicine 2018. PMID: 30529783


  14. Jones HJ, Zak R, Lee KA. Sleep Disturbances in Midlife Women at the Cusp of the Menopausal Transition. Volume 14 of Issue 7. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2018. PMID: 29991421


  15. Morgenthaler TI, Auerbach S, Casey KR, Kristo D, Maganti R, Ramar K, Zak R, Kartje R. Position Paper for the Treatment of Nightmare Disorder in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Paper. Volume 14 of Issue 6. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2018. PMID: 29852917


  16. Muhlhofer WG, Zak R, Kamal T, Rizvi B, Sands LP, Yuan M, Zhang X, Leung JM. Burst-suppression ratio underestimates absolute duration of electroencephalogram suppression compared with visual analysis of intraoperative electroencephalogram. Volume 118 of Issue 5. British journal of anaesthesia 2017. PMID: 28486575


  17. Ferri R, Fulda S, Allen RP, Zucconi M, Bruni O, Chokroverty S, Ferini-Strambi L, Frauscher B, Garcia-Borreguero D, Hirshkowitz M, Högl B, Inoue Y, Jahangir A, Manconi M, Marcus CL, Picchietti DL, Plazzi G, Winkelman JW, Zak RS. World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) 2016 standards for recording and scoring leg movements in polysomnograms developed by a joint task force from the International and the European Restless Legs Syndrome Study Groups (IRLSSG and EURLSSG). Volume 26. Sleep medicine 2016. PMID: 27890390


  18. Aurora RN, Bista SR, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Kristo DA, Mallea JM, Ramar K, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Heald JL. Keep Calm and Debate On. Volume 12 of Issue 9. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2016. PMID: 27568903


  19. Vacas S, McInrue E, Gropper MA, Maze M, Zak R, Lim E, Leung JM. The Feasibility and Utility of Continuous Sleep Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients Using a Portable Electroencephalography Monitor. Volume 123 of Issue 1. Anesthesia and analgesia 2016. PMID: 27159066


  20. Aurora RN, Bista SR, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Kristo DA, Mallea JM, Ramar K, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Heald JL. Updated Adaptive Servo-Ventilation Recommendations for the 2012 AASM Guideline: "The Treatment of Central Sleep Apnea Syndromes in Adults: Practice Parameters with an Evidence-Based Literature Review and Meta-Analyses". Volume 12 of Issue 5. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2016. PMID: 27092695


  21. Zak RS, Walters AS. Dopaminergic Therapy for Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease. Volume 10 of Issue 3. Sleep medicine clinics 2015. PMID: 26329437


  22. Trotti LM, Goldstein CA, Harrod CG, Koo BB, Sharon D, Zak R, Chervin RD. Quality measures for the care of adult patients with restless legs syndrome. Volume 11 of Issue 3. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2015. PMID: 25700882


  23. Gay CL, Zak RS, Lerdal A, Pullinger CR, Aouizerat BE, Lee KA. Cytokine polymorphisms and plasma levels are associated with sleep onset insomnia in adults living with HIV/AIDS. Volume 47. Brain, behavior, and immunity 2014. PMID: 25535857


  24. Lee KA, Gay C, Pullinger CR, Hennessy MD, Zak RS, Aouizerat BE. Cytokine polymorphisms are associated with poor sleep maintenance in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Volume 37 of Issue 3. Sleep 2014. PMID: 24587567


  25. R. Nisha Aurora, David A. Kristo, Sabin R. Bista, James A. Rowley, Rochelle S. Zak, Kenneth R. Casey, Carin I. Lamm, Sharon L. Tracy, Richard S. Rosenberg. The Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder in Adults—An Update for 2012: Practice Parameters with an Evidence-Based Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry 2014. PMID:


  26. Hennessy MD, Zak RS, Gay CL, Pullinger CR, Lee KA, Aouizerat BE. Polymorphisms of interleukin-1 Beta and interleukin-17Alpha genes are associated with restless legs syndrome. Volume 16 of Issue 2. Biological research for nursing 2013. PMID: 23460603


  27. Aurora RN, Lamm CI, Zak RS, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Rowley JA, Casey KR. Practice parameters for the non-respiratory indications for polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing for children. Volume 35 of Issue 11. Sleep 2012. PMID: 23115395


  28. Kannan Ramar, R. Nisha Aurora, Susmita Chowdhuri, Sabin R. Bista, Kenneth R. Casey, Carin I. Lamm, David A. Kristo, Jorge M. Mallea, James A. Rowley, Rochelle S. Zak, Sharon L. Tracy. Treatment of Central Sleep Apnea Syndromes. Sleep 2012. PMID:


  29. Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Casey KR, Lamm CI, Tracy SL, Rosenberg RS. The treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults--an update for 2012: practice parameters with an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analyses: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. Volume 35 of Issue 8. Sleep 2012. PMID: 22851801


  30. Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Casey KR, Lamm CI, Tracy SL, Rosenberg RS. Update to the AASM Clinical Practice Guideline: "The treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults-an update for 2012: practice parameters with an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analyses". Volume 35 of Issue 8. Sleep 2012. PMID: 22851800


  31. Vera M Dadok, Andrew J Szeri, Heidi Kirsch, Jamie Sleigh, Rochelle Zak, Beth Lopour. What can be learned from high-resolution sleep data using ECoG. BMC neuroscience 2012. PMID:


  32. Aurora RN, Chowdhuri S, Ramar K, Bista SR, Casey KR, Lamm CI, Kristo DA, Mallea JM, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Tracy SL. The treatment of central sleep apnea syndromes in adults: practice parameters with an evidence-based literature review and meta-analyses. Volume 35 of Issue 1. Sleep 2012. PMID: 22215916


  33. R. Nisha Aurora, Rochelle S. Zak, Sanford H. Auerbach, Kenneth R. Casey, Susmita Chowdhuri, Anoop Karippot, Rama K. Maganti, Kannan Ramar, David A. Kristo, Sabin R. Bista, Carin I. Lamm, Timothy I. Morgenthaler. Revisiting Evidence-Based Guidelines: Not Such a Nightmare. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 2011. PMID:


  34. Aurora RN, Zak RS, Karippot A, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI, Auerbach SH, Bista SR, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Kristo DA, Ramar K. Practice parameters for the respiratory indications for polysomnography in children. Volume 34 of Issue 3. Sleep 2011. PMID: 21359087


  35. Aurora RN, Casey KR, Kristo D, Auerbach S, Bista SR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Lamm C, Ramar K, Zak R, Morgenthaler TI. Practice parameters for the surgical modifications of the upper airway for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. Volume 33 of Issue 10. Sleep 2010. PMID: 21061864


  36. Aurora RN, Zak RS, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Maganti RK, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI. Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults. Volume 6 of Issue 4. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2010. PMID: 20726290


  37. Aurora RN, Zak RS, Maganti RK, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Morgenthaler TI. Best practice guide for the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Volume 6 of Issue 1. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2010. PMID: 20191945


  38. Zak R, Fisher B, Couvadelli BV, Moss NM, Walters AS. Preliminary study of the prevalence of restless legs syndrome in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Volume 108 of Issue 3. Perceptual and motor skills 2009. PMID: 19725311


  39. Morgenthaler TI, Aurora RN, Brown T, Zak R, Alessi C, Boehlecke B, Chesson AL, Friedman L, Kapur V, Maganti R, Owens J, Pancer J, Swick TJ. Practice parameters for the use of autotitrating continuous positive airway pressure devices for titrating pressures and treating adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: an update for 2007. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine report. Volume 31 of Issue 1. Sleep 2008. PMID: 18220088


  40. Timothy I. Morgenthaler, Vishesh K. Kapur, Terry M. Brown, Todd J. Swick, Cathy Alessi, R. Nisha Aurora, Brian Boehlecke, Andrew L. Chesson, Leah Friedman, Rama Maganti, Judith Owens, Jeffrey Pancer, Rochelle Zak. Practice Parameters for the Treatment of Narcolepsy and other Hypersomnias of Central Origin. Sleep 2007. PMID:


  41. Morgenthaler TI, Kapur VK, Brown T, Swick TJ, Alessi C, Aurora RN, Boehlecke B, Chesson AL, Friedman L, Maganti R, Owens J, Pancer J, Zak R. Practice parameters for the treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias of central origin. Volume 30 of Issue 12. Sleep 2007. PMID: 18246980


  42. Morgenthaler TI, Lee-Chiong T, Alessi C, Friedman L, Aurora RN, Boehlecke B, Brown T, Chesson AL, Kapur V, Maganti R, Owens J, Pancer J, Swick TJ, Zak R. Practice parameters for the clinical evaluation and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine report. Volume 30 of Issue 11. Sleep 2007. PMID: 18041479


  43. Margaret Moline, Lauren Broch, Rochelle Zak. The Impact of Life Cycle on Sleep in Women. 2006. PMID:


  44. Moline ML, Broch L, Zak R. Sleep in women across the life cycle from adulthood through menopause. The Medical clinics of North America 2004. PMID: 15087212


  45. Moline ML, Broch L, Zak R, Gross V. Sleep in women across the life cycle from adulthood through menopause. Sleep medicine reviews 2003. PMID: 12628216


  46. Zak R, Radulovacki M. Quipazine has a biphasic effect on slow wave sleep and reduces REM sleep rebound in REM sleep deprived rats. Volume 8 of Issue 3. Brain research bulletin 1982. PMID: 7093740


  47. Radulovacki M, Zak R. Amphetamine abolishes REM sleep rebound in rats: effect of single injection. Volume 217 of Issue 2. Brain research 1981. PMID: 7248800