Progress in animal models of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: Characteristics and applications

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by the loss of muscle atonia during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, leading to the enactment of vivid and often unpleasant dreams. Studies have shown that it is closely related to alpha-synuclein neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). RBD serves not merely as an early warning signal but also is a manifestation of the pathogenesis of PD. Therefore, elucidating the pathological mechanisms underlying RBD is essential for enhancing the accuracy of early diagnosis and developing effective treatments for PD and DLB. Animal models remain fundamental in this research, enabling the exploration of specific pathophysiological traits, behavioral phenotypes, and potential therapeutic interventions. This review synthesizes recent advances in RBD modeling, including methodologies for model construction, core pathological mechanisms, and associated behavioral phenotypes. By examining the limitations of existing paradigms and proposing new avenues for research, we aim to provide a deeper insight into the mechanistic link between RBD and parkinsonian pathology.