REM sleep behavior in Parkinson disease: Frequent, particularly with higher age

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 7;15(12):e0243454. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243454. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

This retrospective single-center polysomnography-based study was designed to assess the frequency of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in consecutive patients with Parkinsonism, including Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. We observed RBD in 77% of 540 Parkinson patients, with rising frequency at higher age and regardless of sex, in >89% of 89 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies or multiple system atrophy, and in <15% of 42 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration. Thus, the prevalence of RBD in sporadic Parkinson disease might be higher than previously assumed, particularly in elderly patients.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lewy Body Disease / complications
  • Lewy Body Disease / pathology
  • Multiple System Atrophy / complications
  • Multiple System Atrophy / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology*
  • Polysomnography
  • Prevalence
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / epidemiology
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / etiology*
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / complications
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / pathology

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.