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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Noninvasive, High-throughput Determination of Sleep Duration in Rodents
Published on: April 18, 2018
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Phenoconversion to Neurodegenerative Synucleinopathies in Idiopathic REM Sleep
Sheida Zolfaghari1,2, Natalia Lewandowski3, Amelie Pelletier2,4
1Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
Several studies have suggested that atherosclerotic diseases and diabetes may be risk factors for α-synucleinopathies. This prospective cohort study evaluated whether cardiovascular diseases and metabolic risk factors alter the rate or type of phenoconversion from idiopathic/isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) to parkinsonism or dementia. Polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients recruited between 2004 and 2020 were followed annually. Baseline history of cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were compared among patients who developed outcomes versus those who remained outcome-free. No atherosclerotic risk factors were associated with development of α-synucleinopathies. Patients with hypercholesterolemia were somewhat more likely to develop dementia with Lewy bodies rather than Parkinson's disease.
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