Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a narrative review from a technological perspective

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a prodromal state for α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease.
• Current diagnosis and monitoring of iRBD rely on limited and costly polysomnography (PSG) and self-reports.
• Biomarkers for phenoconversion risk in iRBD are increasingly identified, necessitating improved monitoring tools.

Approach:

• A systematic review of studies utilizing wearable technologies and computerized algorithms for iRBD identification and phenoconversion monitoring.
• Analysis of 25 articles published until May 31, 2022, sourced from the Medline database.
• Categorization of studies based on technologies used: actigraphy, gait analysis, computerized algorithms, and novel approaches.

Key Points:

• Actigraphy, accelerometers, pressure mats, smartphones, and tablets were employed alongside PSG-based algorithms.
• Rest-activity patterns, core body temperature, gait, and sleep parameters were analyzed to identify disease stages.
• These technologies demonstrated potential in identifying iRBD and tracking phenoconversion biomarkers.

Conclusions:

• Wearable devices and algorithms offer objective, comfortable, and inexpensive ambulatory data collection.
• These tools can complement existing diagnostic systems for iRBD.
• Future implementation will enhance the accessibility of screening and follow-up for patients at risk of α-synucleinopathies.