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Updated: May 9, 2026

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: July 24, 2019
REM sleep behavior disorder and motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease--a longitudinal study
Paulo Bugalho1, Miguel Viana-Baptista
1Neurology Department Hospital de Egas Moniz (CHLO), Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Neurologia, CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) symptoms can increase in early Parkinson's disease (PD). Baseline RBD is linked to faster motor decline, particularly bradykinesia, in PD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a common non-motor symptom in PD.
- The longitudinal evolution of RBD and its impact on motor progression in early PD require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess the changes in REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) symptoms over two years in an early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) cohort.
- To determine the relationship between the presence of RBD at disease onset and the progression of motor dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 61 early-stage Parkinson's disease patients was evaluated at baseline and after a two-year interval.
- RBD was diagnosed based on criteria including dream-enacting behaviors and screening questionnaire scores.
- Motor function was assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) parts II and III.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of RBD increased from 25 patients at baseline to 35 at follow-up, with an annual incidence of 12.5% in non-RBD patients.
- No significant differences in baseline or follow-up characteristics were observed between patients with and without RBD.
- The presence of RBD at baseline was significantly associated with increased UPDRS total scores and bradykinesia scores over time.
Conclusions:
- REM sleep behavior disorder symptoms can fluctuate and tend to increase during the early stages of Parkinson's disease.
- RBD may serve as a risk factor for motor function deterioration, specifically worsening bradykinesia, in PD patients.
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