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Cognition in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Jean-François Gagnon1, Josie-Anne Bertrand, Daphné Génier Marchand

  • 1Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada.

Frontiers in Neurology
|May 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Early identification of RBD may aid in diagnosing and understanding conditions like Parkinson's disease.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodegeneration Research

Background:

  • Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia affecting 0.5% of the population, predominantly older men.
  • RBD is a common feature of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and a risk factor for alpha-synucleinopathies like Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy.
  • RBD has significant implications for diagnosing and understanding neurodegenerative disorders, including specific patterns of neurodegeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the connection between REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • To highlight the diagnostic and prognostic value of RBD in the context of neurodegeneration.
  • To investigate the neurodegenerative markers associated with RBD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and its association with neurodegenerative conditions.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data regarding RBD prevalence.
  • Examination of neuroimaging and clinical markers in RBD patients.

Main Results:

  • RBD is frequently observed in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and is a risk factor for alpha-synuclein-related diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD).
  • Cognitive impairments, such as attention deficits and executive dysfunction, are common in RBD patients, with approximately 50% exhibiting mild cognitive impairment.
  • RBD is associated with cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Conclusions:

  • REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) serves as a potential early indicator for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly alpha-synucleinopathies.
  • Identifying RBD can aid in the early diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative disorders.
  • Further research into RBD and associated cognitive impairments is crucial for understanding neurodegeneration.
Keywords:
Parkinson’s diseaseREM sleep behavior disordercognitiondementia with Lewy bodieselderlymild cognitive impairmentsleep

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