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.

Validating chronic disease ascertainment algorithms for use in the Canadian longitudinal study on aging.

We validated seven chronic disease ascertainment algorithms for use in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The algorithms pertained to diabetes mellitus type 2, parkinsonism, chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), hand osteoarthritis (OA), hip OA, knee OA, and ischemic heart disease. Our target recruitment was 20 cases and controls per disease; some cases were controls for unrelated diseases.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: devising controlled active treatment studies for symptomatic and neuroprotective therapy--a consensus statement from the International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group.

Objectives: We aimed to provide a consensus statement by the International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group (IRBD-SG) on devising controlled active treatment studies in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and devising studies of neuroprotection against Parkinson disease (PD) and related neurodegeneration in RBD.

Methods: The consensus statement was generated during the fourth IRBD-SG symposium in Marburg, Germany in 2011. The IRBD-SG identified essential methodologic components for a randomized trial in RBD, including potential screening and diagnostic criteria, inclusion and exclusion criteria, primary and secondary outcomes for symptomatic therapy trials (particularly for melatonin and clonazepam), and potential primary and secondary outcomes for eventual trials with disease-modifying and neuroprotective agents.

Treatment of restless legs syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common, sensorimotor, circadian sleep disorder characterized by the urge to move the legs, particularly at nighttime. It is important to differentiate primary and secondary RLS from other conditions, which can mimic the symptoms of RLS, in particular neuropathy and cramps. Despite considerable advances, the understanding of RLS pathophysiology remains incomplete.

Family history of idiopathic REM behavior disorder: a multicenter case-control study.

Objective: To compare the frequency of proxy-reported REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) among relatives of patients with polysomnogram-diagnosed idiopathic RBD (iRBD) in comparison to controls using a large multicenter clinic-based cohort.

Methods: A total of 316 patients with polysomnography-confirmed iRBD were recruited from 12 RBD study group centers, along with 316 controls matched on sex and age group. All subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire that collected proxy-reported information on family history of tremor, gait trouble, balance trouble, Parkinson disease, memory loss, and Alzheimer disease.

Changing the research criteria for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease: obstacles and opportunities.

Recent findings question our present understanding of Parkinson's disease and suggest that new research criteria for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease are needed, similar to those recently defined in Alzheimer's disease. However, our ability to redefine Parkinson's disease is hampered by its complexity and heterogeneity in genetics, phenotypes, and underlying molecular mechanisms; the absence of biochemical markers or ability to image Parkinson's disease-specific histopathological changes; the long prodromal period during which non-motor manifestations might precede classic motor manifestations; and uncertainty about the status of disorders diagnosed clinically as Parkinson's disease but without Lewy pathology. Although it is too early to confidently redefine Parkinson's disease, the time has come to establish a research framework that could lead to new diagnostic criteria.

Doxepin and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in patients with Parkinson's disease -- a randomized study.

Introduction: Although a variety of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments are effective for insomnia in the general population, insomnia in Parkinson's disease differs in important ways and may need different treatments. No studies have conclusively demonstrated effective insomnia treatments in Parkinson's disease.

Methods: We conducted a three-arm six-week randomized pilot study assessing non-pharmacologic treatment (cognitive behavioural therapy with bright light therapy) or doxepin (10 mg daily), compared to an inactive placebo in Parkinson's patients with insomnia.

Prodromal autonomic symptoms and signs in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Pathologic staging systems suggest that autonomic dysfunction may be an early manifestation of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. However, direct evidence is limited, and no prospective studies have measured when autonomic dysfunction starts before disease. Patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder are at very high risk of developing neurodegenerative synucleinopathy, providing an opportunity to directly observe the development of autonomic dysfunction from prodromal stages of neurodegeneration.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Prodromal Neurodegeneration - Where Are We Headed?

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by loss of normal atonia during REM sleep, such that patients appear to act out their dreams. The most important implication of research into this area is that patients with idiopathic RBD are at very high risk of developing synuclein-mediated neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson's disease [PD], dementia with Lewy bodies [DLB], and multiple system atrophy), with risk estimates that approximate 40-65% at 10 years. Thus, RBD disorder is a very strong feature of prodromal synucleinopathy.

Morbidities in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

Idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD, RBD without any obvious comorbid major neurological disease), is strongly associated with numerous comorbid conditions. The most prominent is that with neurodegenerative disorders, especially synuclein-mediated disorders, above all Parkinson disease (PD). Idiopathic RBD is an important risk factor for the development of synucleinopathies.

Color discrimination deficits in Parkinson's disease are related to cognitive impairment and white-matter alterations.

Color discrimination deficit is a common nonmotor manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the pathophysiology of this dysfunction remains poorly understood. Although retinal structure changes found in PD have been suggested to cause color discrimination deficits, the impact of cognitive impairment and cortical alterations remains to be determined.

Hippocampal perfusion predicts impending neurodegeneration in REM sleep behavior disorder.

Objectives: Patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) are at risk for developing Parkinson disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We aimed to identify functional brain imaging patterns predicting the emergence of PD and DLB in patients with IRBD, using SPECT with (99m)Tc-ethylene cysteinate dimer (ECD).

Methods: Twenty patients with IRBD were scanned at baseline during wakefulness using (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT.

Abnormal occipital event-related potentials in Parkinson's disease with concomitant REM sleep behavior disorder.

Background: Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is found in 33-46% of patients with Parkinson's disease and was shown to be associated with cognitive deficits. Our goal was to improve our understanding of the role of this sleep disorder in cerebral dysfunction occurring in Parkinson's disease using a visual cognitive task and event-related potentials.

Methods: Sixteen patients with Parkinson's disease and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, 15 patients with Parkinson's disease without rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and 16 healthy control subjects were included.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder as a biomarker for neurodegeneration: the past 10 years.

Since its original description, idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) has become a well-established risk factor for neurodegenerative disease. Studies from sleep centers have found that at least 40-65% of patients with idiopathic RBD will develop a defined neurodegenerative phenotype over 10 years. This elevated risk of neurodegeneration has been recently confirmed in a population-based study of probable RBD.

Restless legs syndrome outside the blood-brain barrier--exacerbation by domperidone in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Models of dopaminergic function in restless legs focus on central dopaminergic neurons. Domperidone, a peripheral dopamine blocker that cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, is commonly used in Parkinson's disease. After encountering a case of restless legs syndrome that dramatically worsened with domperidone, we assessed whether Parkinson's patients may have exacerbation of restless legs with domperidone.

Caffeine for treatment of Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Epidemiologic studies consistently link caffeine, a nonselective adenosine antagonist, to lower risk of Parkinson disease (PD). However, the symptomatic effects of caffeine in PD have not been adequately evaluated.

Methods: We conducted a 6-week randomized controlled trial of caffeine in PD to assess effects upon daytime somnolence, motor severity, and other nonmotor features.

Brain perfusion anomalies in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder with mild cognitive impairment.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder is an important risk factor for Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Approximately 50% of patients with REM sleep behavior disorder have mild cognitive impairment. Our objective was to investigate brain perfusion changes associated with mild cognitive impairment in REM sleep behavior disorder.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and subtypes of Parkinson's disease.

Numerous studies have explored the potential relationship between rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and manifestations of PD. Our aim was to perform an expanded extensive assessment of motor and nonmotor manifestations in PD to identify whether RBD was associated with differences in the nature and severity of these manifestations. PD patients underwent polysomnography (PSG) to diagnose the presence of RBD.

A single-question screen for rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a multicenter validation study.

Background: Idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia that is an important risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia. Its prevalence is unknown. One barrier to determining prevalence is that current screening tools are too long for large-scale epidemiologic surveys.

How does parkinsonism start? Prodromal parkinsonism motor changes in idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Parkinsonism, as a gradually progressive disorder, has a prodromal interval during which neurodegeneration has begun but cardinal manifestations have not fully developed. A systematic direct assessment of this interval has never been performed. Since patients with idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder are at very high risk of parkinsonism, they provide a unique opportunity to observe directly the development of parkinsonism.

Identifying prodromal Parkinson's disease: pre-motor disorders in Parkinson's disease.

Increasing recognition that Parkinson's disease (PD) may start outside of the substantia nigra has led to a rapidly expanding effort to define prodromal stages of PD, before motor signs permit classical diagnosis. Many of these efforts center around the identification of clinical non-motor symptoms and signs of disease. There is now direct evidence that olfaction, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), constipation, and depression can be present in prodromal PD.