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REM Behavior Disorder: Implications for PD Therapeutics

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Abstract

Purpose

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia that occurs during REM sleep, characterized by REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) and dream enactment behavior (DEB). RBD is associated with several diseases and medications but most notably is a prodromal feature of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). This article reviews RBD, its treatments, and implications for PD therapeutics.

Recent Findings

Recent research recognizes RBD as a prodromal marker of PD, resulting in expansion of basic science and clinical investigations of RBD. Current basic science research investigates the pathophysiology of RBD and explores animal models to allow therapeutic development. Clinical research has focused on natural history observation, as well as potential RBD treatments and their impact on sleep and phenoconversion to neurodegenerative disease.

Summary

RBD serves as a fresh access point to develop both neuroprotective and symptomatic therapies in PD. These types of investigations are novel and will benefit from the more established basic science infrastructure to develop new interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Jeanne S. Feuerstein & Amy Amara

  2. Department of Neurology, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, 12631 E. 17th Ave Room 5508, Mail Stop B185, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Jeanne S. Feuerstein

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  1. Jeanne S. Feuerstein
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J.F. wrote the main manuscript text. J.F. prepared figure 1. J.F. and A.A. reviewed and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jeanne S. Feuerstein.

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Feuerstein, J.S., Amara, A. REM Behavior Disorder: Implications for PD Therapeutics. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 23, 727–734 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-023-01310-1

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