Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in women with Parkinson’s disease is an underdiagnosed entity

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Little information exists about RBD in women with PD. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical expression of RBD in women with PD and note any differences in women with PD with and without RBD. One hundred fifty-six patients with PD were recruited. There were 37 women with PD and probable RBD was diagnosed using the RBD Screening Questionnaire. Other scales included Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale, Epworth Sleep Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Probable RBD was diagnosed in 10 women with PD (27%). Most often (70%) RBD occurred after the onset of parkinsonian symptoms. Women with probable RBD were older, had shorter duration of PD symptoms, lower tremor score, and higher axial signs score. They had insomnia (80% versus non-probable RBD patients 44%, p = 0.019), and poor sleep quality with excessive daytime sleepiness. Anxiety and depression were common in women with probable RBD. Episodes were brief and confined to vocalization and simple limb movements. No injury to self or bed partners was noted. Women with PD have fewer fights and less aggressive dream enacting behaviour than men, but suffer from significant disturbed sleep, and levels of anxiety and depression.     

Clinical manifestations of Parkinson disease and the onset of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

ObjectiveTo identify whether the presence and/or timing of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) onset were associated with differences in clinical features and sleep parameters of Parkinson disease (PD).MethodsIn all, 112 PD patients were enrolled and all underwent extensive clinical evaluations and video-polysomnography (PSG). Clinical features and PSG parameters were compared in PD patients with (PD + RBD) or without (PD − RBD) RBD, RBD preceding (RBD > PD), or not (PD ⩾ RBD) PD onset.ResultsSixty-three of the 112 PD patients were affected by RBD. Adjusted for age, gender, education, body mass index (BMI), levodopa equivalent daily dose (LED) and PD duration, PD + RBD patients had higher Hoehn & Yahr stage, higher scores for UPDRS parts I, II and III, more dyskinesia, higher ratio of axial/limb manifestations, and more hallucinations. Their cognitive and quality-of-life status was significantly lower (all P < 0.05). For PSG, PD + RBD patients exhibited higher percentages of phasic and tonic EMG activities, lower apnea hypopnea (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and less time in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) <90% during REM sleep (all P < 0.05). PD ⩾ RBD (n = 22) patients did not significantly differ from RBD > PD (n = 41) patients in clinical manifestations, whereas the PD ⩾ RBD subgroup had significantly higher UPDRS part I score, lower PDQ score and lower AHI during REM than the PD − RBD group (all P < 0.05), but not RBD > PD subgroup. Correlation analysis showed that worse cognition was associated with shorter interval of RBD preceding PD onset (r = 0.297, P = 0.018), but not RBD duration (P = 0.202).ConclusionsClinical manifestations of PD may vary depending on the presence and timing of RBD onset. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that RBD may be a marker of complex subtypes of PD.     

帕金森病患者快速眼球运动睡眠行为障碍的回顾分析及前瞻性研究

目的 临床回顾分析帕金森病(PD)患者快速眼球运动(REM)睡眠行为障碍(RBD)的发生率及其危险因素,前瞻性研究RBD对PD进展的影响.方法 根据国际睡眠障碍分型修订版(ICSD-R)关于RBD的最低诊断标准,对符合临床疑似RBD(cpRBD)的患者进行统一PD评估量表(UPDRS)、MMSE、蒙特利尔认知功能评估量表(MoCA)等测定与随访观察,随访时间为2.5年.结果 基线时cpRBD的发生率为35.6%(47/132),随访末的发生率为41.7%(55/132),脱落率为11.4%(15/132).RBD的独立危险因素为MoCA分值低(OR=0.817,P=0.004),而震颤型起病形式为RBD的保护因素(OR=0.247,P=0.020).cpRBD患者病情进展较非cpRBD患者快[UPDRSⅢ终点与基线差值:(9.86±4.96)分与(6.76±4.26)分,t=2.909,P=0.005;H-Y分期终点与基线差值:(0.77±0.54)期与(0.33±0.49)期,t=3.664,P=0.000].结论 RBD的发生可能预测PD病情的快速进展、认知功能损害、精神症状的出现.     

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in treatment-naïve Parkinson disease patients

Objective

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a risk factor for dementia in Parkinson disease (PD) patients. The objectives of our study were to prospectively evaluate the frequency of RBD in a sample of treatment-naïve, newly diagnosed PD patients and compare sleep characteristics and cognition in RBD and non-RBD groups.

Methods

Fifty-seven newly diagnosed PD patients were consecutively recruited in a university medical center. All patients underwent two overnight polysomnography (PSG) sessions and were diagnosed with RBD according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Revision criteria. Daytime sleepiness was measured in a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Cognition was assessed in a standard neuropsychologic examination.

Results

Seventeen PD patients (30%) met the criteria for RBD. The RBD patients and non-RBD patients did not significantly differ in mean age, gender ratio, disease duration, motor symptom subtype and severity, total sleep time, percentage of REM sleep, apnea–hypopnea index, mean oxygen saturation, and importantly cognitive performance. However, non-RBD patients had a significantly shorter mean daytime sleep latency than RBD patients (15 vs 18 min, respectively; P = .014).

Conclusion

A high frequency of RBD was found in our sample of 57 newly diagnosed PD patients. At this stage in the disease, RBD was not found to be associated with other sleep disorders or cognitive decline. Follow-up is needed to assess the risk for developing dementia in early-stage PD patients with RBD.     

早期帕金森病患者快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍研究

目的探讨早期帕金森病患者快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍发生情况,以及帕金森病运动症状、非运动症状和快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍特点。方法共60例原发性帕金森病患者,采用统一帕金森病评价量表第二和第三部分(UPDRSⅡ和UPDRSⅢ)以及Hoehn-Yahr分期评价帕金森病非运动症状和运动症状,蒙特利尔认知评价量表评价认知功能,汉密尔顿焦虑量表和汉密尔顿抑郁量表评价焦虑和抑郁症状;中文版快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍筛查量表判断是否伴快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍,Epworth嗜睡量表(ESS)评价白天过度嗜睡程度;多导睡眠图监测睡眠障碍特征,包括下颌位相性肌电活动密度和快速眼动睡眠期肌肉失弛缓。结果 60例帕金森病患者中42例(70%)伴快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍(PD+RBD组),多导睡眠图监测其异常行为主要表现为上肢伸展抓握、肢体震颤抽搐、发笑、喊叫和怒骂等非暴力动作,仅2例出现暴力击打、蹬踢等异常行为。PD+RBD组患者年龄(P=0.024)、病程8年比例(P=0.000)、UPDRSⅡ(P=0.005)和UPDRSⅢ(P=0.001)评分、Hoehn-Yahr分期2级比例(P=0.007)、焦虑障碍(P=0.044)和抑郁障碍(P=0.001)比例,以及下颌位相性肌电活动密度(P=0.000)和快速眼动睡眠期肌肉失弛缓比例(P=0.000)均高于对照组,其中,PD+RBD组有16例(38.10%)快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍症状早于帕金森样症状5.20(3.91,6.51)年。结论年龄大、病程长、运动症状和非运动症状严重的帕金森病患者易伴发快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍,快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍可能是帕金森病的早期表现。多导睡眠图监测对早期帕金森病伴快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍的诊断有重要参考价值。     

伴快速眼球运动睡眠行为障碍的帕金森病患者临床特征

目的 评价快速眼球运动睡眠行为障碍(RBD)在帕金森病(PD)患者中的患病率以及伴发RBD的PD患者临床特征.方法 2007年连续入组124例PD患者,采用非运动症状问卷(NMSquest)第25项问答结果调查PD患者中RBD患病率;将入选患者分为RBD组(78例)和非RBD组(13例),采用统一PD评分量表(UPDRS)、Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y)分级比较2组运动症状严重程度和运动并发症发生情况;选用NMSquest量表比较2组非运动症状发生情况,选用MMSE、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、帕金森病睡眠量表(PDSS)和Epworth嗜睡量表(ESS)比较2组认知功能、焦虑和抑郁、夜间睡眠障碍和日间思睡程度.结果 (1)RBD的患病率为62.9%(78/124);(2)RBD组患者的病程[(3.8±2.8)年]显著短于非RBD组[(5.0±2.5)年,t=-1.972,P=0.048],但在性别、年龄、起病年龄、发病类型、左旋多巴等效剂量(LDE)和用药种类上2组差异没有统计学意义;(3)在运动症状中RBD与非RBD组在H-Y分级、UPDRS-Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ评分以及运动并发症发生率方面差异无统计学意义;(4)在非运动症状中胃肠道功能、自主神经系统功能、精神和睡眠活动等方面的不良症状在RBD组的发生率显著高于非RBD组,但是认知、焦虑和抑郁、夜间睡眠障碍和日间思睡的严重程度在2组间差异没有统计学意义.结论 RBD在PD患者中的患病率较高,伴发RBD的PD患者病程较短且非运动系统受累更加广泛.     

REM sleep behaviour disorder treated with melatonin in a patient with Alzheimer's disease

We report a case of a 68-year-old man with probable Alzheimer's disease who developed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. This was confirmed with polysomnography but the patient also had some sleep apnea, which prevented the use of clonazepam for treatment. Melatonin was successfully used as an alternative treatment.     

Investigating rapid eye movement sleep without atonia in Parkinson's disease using the rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is frequently observed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Accurate diagnosis is essential for managing this condition. Furthermore, the emergence of idiopathic RBD in later life can represent a premotor feature, heralding the development of PD. Reliable, accurate methods for identifying RBD may offer a window for early intervention. This study sought to identify whether the RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ) and three questionnaires focused on dream enactment were able to correctly identify patients with REM without atonia (RWA), the neurophysiological hallmark of RBD. Forty‐six patients with PD underwent neurological and sleep assessment in addition to completing the RBDSQ, the RBD single question (RBD1Q), and the Mayo Sleep Questionnaire (MSQ). The REM atonia index was derived for all participants as an objective measure of RWA. Patients identified to be RBD positive on the RBDSQ did not show increased RWA on polysomnography (80% sensitivity and 55% specificity). However, patients positive for RBD on questionnaires specific to dream enactment correctly identified higher degrees of RWA and improved the diagnostic accuracy of these questionnaires. This study suggests that the RBDSQ does not accurately identify RWA, essential for diagnosing RBD in PD. Furthermore, the results suggest that self‐report measures of RBD need to focus questions on dream enactment behavior to better identify RWA and RBD. Further studies are needed to develop accurate determination and quantification of RWA in RBD to improve management of patients with PD in the future. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society     

Manifestations of Parkinson disease differ in association with REM sleep behavior disorder

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is commonly associated with Parkinson disease (PD), but it is unclear whether this association has implications for disease manifestations. We evaluated 36 PD patients for the presence of RBD by polysomnography. Patients underwent an extensive evaluation by a movement disorders specialist blinded to polysomnography results. Severity of motor manifestations, autonomic, visual, psychiatric, and olfactory dysfunctions and quality of life (QOL) were assessed, and compared using regression analysis that adjusted for disease duration, age and sex. Severity of motor manifestations did not differ between groups. However, the presence of RBD in PD was strongly associated with symptoms and signs of orthostatic hypotension (systolic blood pressure lying to standing = ?25.7 ± 13.0 mmHg vs. ?4.9 ±14.1, P < 0.001); and orthostatic symptom prevalence = 71% vs. 27%, P = 0.0076). There was no association between RBD and other autonomic symptoms. Color vision was worse in patients with RBD, but olfactory dysfunction did not differ between groups. The prevalence of depression, hallucinations, paranoia, and impulse disorders did not differ between groups. Emotional functioning and general health QOL measures were lower in those with RBD, but there were no differences between groups on disease‐specific indices or on measures of overall physical QOL. These findings suggest that the pathophysiology of RBD and nonmotor manifestations of PD, particularly autonomic dysfunction, are linked. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society     

Sleep bruxism and oromandibular myoclonus in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a preliminary report

Objective

We aimed to compare rhythmic masticatory muscle activity typical of sleep bruxism and oromandibular myoclonus (OMM) during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and in Parkinson disease (PD) patients with RBD (PD-RBD).

Methods

Sleep polygraphic data were collected from 9 age-matched controls and 28 patients (mean ± standard error of the mean, 66.0 ± 1.7 y) with a clinical and sleep laboratory diagnosis of RBD. Patients were divided into two groups: 13 patients with iRBD and 15 patients with PD-RBD. Rhythmic masticatory muscle activity, a marker of sleep bruxism, and OMM were scored blind to subject’s diagnosis from jaw electromyographic recordings during sleep.

Results

The rhythmic masticatory muscle activity index was significantly higher during REM sleep in iRBD subjects compared to controls (P < .01) and was significantly higher during non-REM (NREM) sleep in both subject groups compared to controls (P ? .03). A positive sleep laboratory diagnosis of sleep bruxism was made in 25% of all patients. In iRBD, patients had more OMM during REM sleep than controls (2.4 times higher; P = .01).

Conclusion

In the presence of a high frequency of rhythmic masticatory muscle activity during REM sleep, RBD may be suspected and further neurologic assessment is recommended.     

帕金森病合并快速眼球运动睡眠行为障碍患者的客观睡眠结构及认知功能

目的 评价帕金森病合并快速眼球运动睡眠行为障碍(RBD)患者的睡眠结构及认知功能,并探讨其睡眠结构与认知功能之间的相关性.方法 本研究为横断面研究,以在我院睡眠中心进行睡眠监测的39例帕金森病合并RBD患者作为病例组,并以年龄、性别相匹配的21例原发性快速眼球运动睡眠行为障碍(iRBD)患者及37例不合并RBD的帕金森病患者作为对照组.所有患者均行整夜睡眠监测以定量睡眠相关参数,并且于监测当天使用蒙特利尔(MoCA)评估量表评估其认知功能.采用多重线性回归分析量表得分与睡眠结构之间的相关性.结果 (1)帕金森病合并RBD患者的睡眠效率(60.9％±16.9％)、总睡眠时间[(329.7±96.5)min]、非快速眼动睡眠2期时间[(127.6±67.6) min]及快速眼动睡眠期时间[(45.3 ±33.2) min]较iRBD组的相应值[77.8％±16.9％以及(397.1 ±88.9)、(188.0±94.7)、(70.6 ±25.9) min]比较明显减少(均P＜0.05),较不合并RBD的PD组的相应值[61.3％±21.7％以及(324.9 ±134.6)、(132.6 ±65.6)、(47.1±31.9)min]减少,但差异均无统计学意义.3组的睡眠潜伏期、快速眼球运动睡眠潜伏期、非快速眼球运动睡眠1期,慢波睡眠比例、氧减指数、呼吸暂停低通气指数及周期性肢体运动指数比较差异均无统计学意义.(2)帕金森病合并RBD患者认知功能最差,其中视空间与执行功能得分[(3.8±1.1)分]较iRBD组[(4.4±0.7)分]比较差异有统计学意义(F=3.426,P＜0.05).(3)多重线性回归显示帕金森病合并RBD患者的RBD病程、睡眠效率和非快速眼动睡眠2期与视空间与执行功能得分有相关性.结论 帕金森病合并RBD患者的睡眠效率、总睡眠、非快速眼动睡眠2期及快速眼动睡眠期时间和认知功能均明显下降,认知功能的改变与睡眠结构的变化可能存在相关性.     

REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson disease: Association with abnormal ocular motor findings

BackgroundThe anatomical substrates associated with generalized muscle atonia during REM sleep are located on the pontine tegmentum and medial medulla oblongata. We examined whether patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) have abnormal ocular movements suggesting brainstem or cerebellar dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsCross-sectional survey for the existence of RBD and abnormal ocular movements. Ocular movements were examined by video-oculography (VOG).ResultsA total of 202 patients were included in this study. One hundred and sixteen (57.4%) of the 202 patients have clinically probable RBD, and 28 (24.1%) of the 116 with clinically probable RBD patients had abnormal VOG findings suggesting brainstem or cerebellar dysfunction; whereas 86 of the 202 patients did not have clinically probable RBD, and only 7 (8.1%) of the 86 patients had abnormal VOG findings suggesting brainstem or cerebellar dysfunction (P = 0.001).ConclusionThis study suggests that the presence of RBD is associated with more severe or extensive brainstem pathology or different distribution of pathology in PD.     

Retinal thickness and microvascular pathway in Idiopathic Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder and Parkinson's disease

IntroductionRetinal impairment has previously been described in Parkinson's Disease (PD), also in early stage of disease. Idiopathic Rapid-eye-movement sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD) is considered the strongest marker in the diagnosis of “Prodromal PD”. Thus, we evaluated the thickness of retinal layers and the microvascular retinal pattern in a group of iRBD patients compared to PD and healthy subjects (HCs).Methodsretinal layer's thickness and microvascular pattern among PD, iRBD and HCs were assessed using Spectral-Density Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A), respectively.ResultsForty-one eyes from 21 PD, 37 eyes from 19 iRBD and 33 eyes from 17 HCs were analysed. Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) was thinner in PD and RBD compared to HCs. All macular retinal layers, except for retinal pigment epithelium, resulted to be significantly thinner in iRBD and in PD compared to HCs, also adjusting by age, sex and hypertension. Macular RNFL and ganglionic cell layer were thinner in PD compared to iRBD. Moreover, in iRBD, a peculiar microvascular pattern was found, characterized by a higher vascularization of the deep capillary plexus with respect both PD patients and HCs.Conclusionin PD and iRBD patients retina was thinner than HCs, and values of iRBD were between PD and HCs. Moreover, in iRBD, a peculiar microvascular pattern has been found, characterized by a higher vascularization of the deep capillary plexus. Our findings suggest that retina might be considered a biomarker of neurodegeneration in iRBD, easily estimable using non-invasive tool such as OCT and OCT-A.     

Detection of REM sleep behaviour disorder by automated polysomnography analysis

ObjectiveEvidence suggests Rapid-Eye-Movement (REM) Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) is an early predictor of Parkinson’s disease. This study proposes a fully-automated framework for RBD detection consisting of automated sleep staging followed by RBD identification.MethodsAnalysis was assessed using a limited polysomnography montage from 53 participants with RBD and 53 age-matched healthy controls. Sleep stage classification was achieved using a Random Forest (RF) classifier and 156 features extracted from electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG) and electromyogram (EMG) channels. For RBD detection, a RF classifier was trained combining established techniques to quantify muscle atonia with additional features that incorporate sleep architecture and the EMG fractal exponent.ResultsAutomated multi-state sleep staging achieved a 0.62 Cohen’s Kappa score. RBD detection accuracy improved from 86% to 96% (compared to individual established metrics) when using manually annotated sleep staging. Accuracy remained high (92%) when using automated sleep staging.ConclusionsThis study outperforms established metrics and demonstrates that incorporating sleep architecture and sleep stage transitions can benefit RBD detection. This study also achieved automated sleep staging with a level of accuracy comparable to manual annotation.SignificanceThis study validates a tractable, fully-automated, and sensitive pipeline for RBD identification that could be translated to wearable take-home technology.     

REM sleep behaviour disorder in the elderly

REM sleep behaviour disorder is a recently described parasomnia characterized by a history of excessive motor activities during sleep and is associated with pathological absence of muscle atonia during REM sleep. There is very limited literature on the condition. Two out of 349 elderly patients referred to a psychogeriatric unit were identified to have REM sleep behaviour disorder. These two patients are presented to illustrate the clinical features of the condition. Both of them showed a good response to clonazepam treatment. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Proof of concept: Screening for REM sleep behaviour disorder with a minimal set of sensors

ObjectiveRapid-Eye-Movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is an early predictor of Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. This study investigated the use of a minimal set of sensors to achieve effective screening for RBD in the population, integrating automated sleep staging (three state) followed by RBD detection without the need for cumbersome electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors.MethodsPolysomnography signals from 50 participants with RBD and 50 age-matched healthy controls were used to evaluate this study. Three stage sleep classification was achieved using a random forest classifier and features derived from a combination of cost-effective and easy to use sensors, namely electrocardiogram (ECG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG) channels. Subsequently, RBD detection was achieved using established and new metrics derived from ECG and EMG channels.ResultsThe EOG and EMG combination provided the optimal minimalist fully-automated performance, achieving 0.57 ± 0.19 kappa (3 stage) for sleep staging and an RBD detection accuracy of 0.90 ± 0.11, (sensitivity and specificity of 0.88 ± 0.13 and 0.92 ± 0.098, respectively). A single ECG sensor achieved three state sleep staging with 0.28 ± 0.06 kappa and RBD detection accuracy of 0.62 ± 0.10.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of using signals from a single EOG and EMG sensor to detect RBD using fully-automated techniques.SignificanceThis study proposes a cost-effective, practical, and simple RBD identification support tool using only two sensors (EMG and EOG); ideal for screening purposes.