Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and REM Sleep Without Atonia as an Early Manifestation of Degenerative Neurological Disease

  • Sleep (M Thorpy and M Billiard, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 10 March 2012

Abstract

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by repeated episodes of dream enactment behavior and REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) during polysomnography recording. RSWA is characterized by increased phasic or tonic muscle activity seen on polysomnographic electromyogram channels. RSWA is a requisite diagnostic feature of RBD, but may also be seen in patients without clinical symptoms or signs of dream enactment as an incidental finding in neurologically normal individuals, especially in patients receiving antidepressant therapy. RBD may be idiopathic or symptomatic. Patients with idiopathic RBD often later develop other neurological features including parkinsonism, orthostatic hypotension, anosmia, or cognitive impairment. RSWA without clinical symptoms as well as clinically overt RBD also often occurs concomitantly with the α-synucleinopathy family of neurodegenerative disorders, which includes idiopathic Parkinson disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy. This review article considers the epidemiology of RBD, clinical and polysomnographic diagnostic standards for both RBD and RSWA, previously reported associations of RSWA and RBD with neurodegenerative disorders and other potential causes, the pathophysiology of which brain structures and networks mediate dysregulation of REM sleep muscle atonia, and considerations for the effective and safe management of RBD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Bodkin CL, Schenck CH. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in women: relevance to general and specialty medical practice. J Women’s Health. 2009;18(12):1955–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. •• Boeve BF. REM sleep behavior disorder: Updated review of the core features, the REM sleep behavior disorder-neurodegenerative disease association, evolving concepts, controversies, and future directions. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010;1184:15–54. This paper provides a comprehensive and updated review of most key aspects of RBD.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chiu HF, Wing YK, Lam LC, et al. Sleep-related injury in the elderly–an epidemiological study in Hong Kong. Sleep. 2000;23(4):513–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Frauscher B, Gschliesser V, Brandauer E, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder in 703 sleep-disorder patients: the importance of eliciting a comprehensive sleep history. Sleep Med. 2010;11(2):167–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Montplaisir J, Gagnon JF, Fantini ML, et al. Polysomnographic diagnosis of idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Mov Disord: Off J Mov Disord Soc. 2010;25(13):2044–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ohayon MM, Schenck CH. Violent behavior during sleep: prevalence, comorbidity and consequences. Sleep Med. 2010;11(9):941–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Olson EJ, Boeve BF, Silber MH. Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder: demographic, clinical and laboratory findings in 93 cases. Brain: J Neurol. 2000;123(Pt 2):331–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. •• Postuma RB, Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Fantini ML, Massicotte-Marquez J, Montplaisir J. Quantifying the risk of neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology. 2009;72(15):1296–1300. This paper is the first to quantify the risk of developing features of PD, LBD, MCI, or MSA among RBD subjects.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Ettinger MG, Mahowald MW. Chronic behavioral disorders of human REM sleep: a new category of parasomnia. Sleep. 1986;9(2):293–308.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wing YK, Lam SP, Li SX, et al. REM sleep behaviour disorder in Hong Kong Chinese: clinical outcome and gender comparison. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008;79(12):1415–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Boeve B, Silber M, Ferman T, Lucas J, Parisi J. Association of REM sleep behavior disorder and neurodegenerative disease may reflect an underlying synucleinopathy. Mov Disord. 2001;16:622–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. • Boeve BF, Silber MH, Saper CB, et al. Pathophysiology of REM sleep behaviour disorder and relevance to neurodegenerative disease. Brain: J Neurol. 2007;130(Pt 11):2770–2788. This paper reviews the evidence in animal models for RBD pathophysiology, and proposes which key nuclei and pathways may be involved in human RBD pathophysiology.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Claassen DO, Josephs KA, Ahlskog JE, Silber MH, Tippmann-Peikert M, Boeve BF. REM sleep behavior disorder preceding other aspects of synucleinopathies by up to half a century. Neurology. 2010;75(6):494–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. •• Iranzo A, Lomena F, Stockner H, et al. Decreased striatal dopamine transporter uptake and substantia nigra hyperechogenicity as risk markers of synucleinopathy in patients with idiopathic rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder: a prospective study [corrected]. Lancet Neurol. 2010;9(11):1070–1077. This important paper suggests that these two neuroimaging methods may be key biomarkers in identifying RBD subjects who are 1) most likely to have an underlying synucleinopathy, and 2) most likely to develop cognitive impairment and/or parkinsonism in the near future.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Iranzo A, Molinuevo JL, Santamaria J, et al. Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder as an early marker for a neurodegenerative disorder: a descriptive study. Lancet Neurol. 2006;5(7):572–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Nightingale S, Orgill JC, Ebrahim IO, de Lacy SF, Agrawal S, Williams AJ. The association between narcolepsy and REM behavior disorder (RBD). Sleep Med. 2005;6(3):253–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sixel-Doring F, Trautmann E, Mollenhauer B, Trenkwalder C. Associated factors for REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson disease. Neurology. 2011;77(11):1048–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bonakis A, Howard RS, Ebrahim IO, Merritt S, Williams A. REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and its associations in young patients. Sleep Med. 2009;10(6):641–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Ju YE, Larson-Prior L, Duntley S. Changing demographics in REM sleep behavior disorder: possible effect of autoimmunity and antidepressants. Sleep Med. 2011;12(3):278–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Teman PT, Tippmann-Peikert M, Silber MH, Slocumb NL, Auger RR. Idiopathic rapid-eye-movement sleep disorder: associations with antidepressants, psychiatric diagnoses, and other factors, in relation to age of onset. Sleep Med. 2009;10(1):60–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Postuma RB, Gagnon JF, Rompre S, Montplaisir JY. Severity of REM atonia loss in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder predicts Parkinson disease. Neurology. 2010;74(3):239–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cygan F, Oudiette D, Leclair-Visonneau L, Leu-Semenescu S, Arnulf I. Night-to-night variability of muscle tone, movements, and vocalizations in patients with REM sleep behavior disorder. J Clin Sleep Med. 2010;6(6):551–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. • Dauvilliers Y, Rompre S, Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Petit D, Montplaisir J. REM sleep characteristics in narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep. 2007;30(7):844–849. This paper reviews the key aspects of REM sleep in narcolepsy and RBD.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ferri R, Manconi M, Plazzi G, et al. A quantitative statistical analysis of the submentalis muscle EMG amplitude during sleep in normal controls and patients with REM sleep behavior disorder. J Sleep Res. 2008;17(1):89–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ferri R, Rundo F, Manconi M, et al. Improved computation of the atonia index in normal controls and patients with REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep Med. 2010;11(9):947–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Iranzo A, Frauscher B, Santos H, et al. Usefulness of the SINBAR electromyographic montage to detect the motor and vocal manifestations occurring in REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep Med. 2011;12(3):284–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lapierre O, Montplaisir J. Polysomnographic features of REM sleep behavior disorder: development of a scoring method. Neurology. 1992;42(7):1371–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. International classification of sleep disorders, 2nd edition: Diagnositc and coding manual. American Acad Sleep Med. 2005.

  29. Ferri R, Bruni O, Fulda S, Zucconi M, Plazzi G. A quantitative analysis of the submentalis muscle electromyographic amplitude during rapid eye movement sleep across the lifespan. J Sleep Res. 2011.

  30. Boot B, Boeve B, Roberts R, et al. Probable REM sleep behavior disorder increases risk for mild cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s disease: A population-based study. Ann Neurol. 2012;71(1):49–56.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Boeve BF, Molano JR, Ferman TJ, et al. Validation of the mayo sleep questionnaire to screen for REM sleep behavior disorder in an aging and dementia cohort. Sleep Med. 2011;12(5):445–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Li SX, Wing YK, Lam SP, et al. Validation of a new REM sleep behavior disorder questionnaire (RBDQ-HK). Sleep Med. 2010;11(1):43–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Stiasny-Kolster K, Mayer G, Schafer S, Moller JC, Heinzel-Gutenbrunner M, Oertel WH. The REM sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire–a new diagnostic instrument. Mov Disord: Off J Mov Disord Soc. 2007;22(16):2386–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Iranzo A, Santamaria J. Severe obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea mimicking REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep. 2005;28:203–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Frauscher B, Iranzo A, Hogl B, et al. Quantification of electromyographic activity during REM sleep in multiple muscles in REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep. 2008;31(5):724–31.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Fantini ML, Farini E, Ortelli P, et al. Longitudinal study of cognitive function in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep. 2011;34(5):619–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Schenck CH, Bundlie SR, Mahowald MW. Delayed emergence of a Parkinsonian disorder in 38% of 29 older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. Neurology. 1996;46(2):388–93.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Fantini ML, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Ferini-Strambi L. Olfactory deficit in idiopathic rapid eye movements sleep behavior disorder. Brain Res Bull. 2006;70(4–6):386–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. • Postuma RB, Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Montplaisir JY. Markers of neurodegeneration in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Brain: J Neurol. 2009;132(Pt 12):3298–3307. This paper reviews the key clinical, electrophysiologic, neuropsychologic, neuroimaging, etc. findings associated with RBD and PD.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Postuma RB, Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Desjardins C, Montplaisir JY. Olfaction and color vision identify impending neurodegeneration in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Ann Neurol. 2011;69(5):811–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Marques A, Dujardin K, Boucart M, et al. REM sleep behaviour disorder and visuoperceptive dysfunction: a disorder of the ventral visual stream? J Neurol. 2010;257(3):383–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Terzaghi M, Sinforiani E, Zucchella C, et al. Cognitive performance in REM sleep behaviour disorder: a possible early marker of neurodegenerative disease? Sleep Med. 2008;9(4):343–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Massicotte-Marquez J, Decary A, Gagnon JF, et al. Executive dysfunction and memory impairment in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology. 2008;70(15):1250–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Fantini ML, Gagnon JF, Petit D, et al. Slowing of electroencephalogram in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Ann Neurol. 2003;53(6):774–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Iranzo A, Isetta V, Molinuevo JL, et al. Electroencephalographic slowing heralds mild cognitive impairment in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep Med. 2010;11(6):534–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Frauscher B, Nomura T, Duerr S, et al. Investigation of autonomic function in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. J Neurol. 2011.

  47. Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Lanfranchi P, et al. Cardiac autonomic denervation in Parkinson’s disease is linked to REM sleep behavior disorder. Mov Disord: Off J Mov Disord Soc. 2011;26(8):1529–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Nomura T, Inoue Y, Hogl B, et al. Comparison of the clinical features of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in patients with Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011;65(3):264–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. De Cock VC, Debs R, Oudiette D, et al. The improvement of movement and speech during rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in multiple system atrophy. Brain: J Neurol. 2011;134(Pt 3):856–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Ferman TJ, Boeve BF, Smith GE, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder and dementia: cognitive differences when compared with AD. Neurology. 1999;52(5):951–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Ferman TJ, Smith GE, Boeve BF, et al. Neuropsychological differentiation of dementia with Lewy bodies from normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Clin Neuropsychol. 2006;20(4):623–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Ferman TJ, Boeve BF, Smith GE, et al. Inclusion of RBD improves the diagnostic classification of dementia with Lewy bodies. Neurology. 2011;77(9):875–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Molano J, Boeve B, Ferman T, et al. Mild cognitive impairment associated with limbic and neocortical Lewy body disease: a clinicopathological study. Brain: J Neurol. 2010;133(Pt 2):540–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Chen PC, Wu D, Chen CC, Chi NF, Kang JH, Hu CJ. Rapid eye movement sleep atonia in patients with cognitive impairment. J Neurol Sci. 2011;305(1–2):34–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Plazzi G, Cortelli P, Montagna P, et al. REM sleep behaviour disorder differentiates pure autonomic failure from multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1998;64(5):683–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Weyer A, Minnerop M, Abele M, Klockgether T. REM sleep behavioral disorder in pure autonomic failure (PAF). Neurology. 2006;66(4):608–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Arnulf I, Merino-Andreu M, Bloch F, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder and REM sleep without atonia in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Sleep. 2005;28(3):349–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Gagnon JF, Petit D, Fantini ML, et al. REM sleep behavior disorder and REM sleep without atonia in probable Alzheimer disease. Sleep. 2006;29(10):1321–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Boeve B, Lin S-C, Strongosky A, Dickson D, Wszolek Z. Absence of REM sleep behavior disorder in eleven members of the PPND kindred. Arch Neurol. 2006;63:268–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Schenck C, Mahowald M. Motor dyscontrol in narcolepsy: rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep without atonia and REM sleep behavior disorder. Ann Neurol. 1992;32:3–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Compta Y, Iranzo A, Santamaría J, Casamitjana R, Graus F. REM sleep behavior disorder and narcoleptic features in anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis. Sleep. 2007;30:767–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Ferri R, Franceschini C, Zucconi M, et al. Searching for a marker of REM sleep behavior disorder: submentalis muscle EMG amplitude analysis during sleep in patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy. Sleep. 2008;31(10):1409–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Mathis J, Hess C, Bassetti C. Isolated mediotegmental lesion causing narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder: a case evidencing a common pathway in narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007;78:427–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Cornelius JR, Pittock SJ, McKeon A, et al. Sleep manifestations of voltage-gated potassium channel complex autoimmunity. Arch Neurol. 2011;68(6):733–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Iranzo A, Graus F, Clover L, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and potassium channel antibody-associated limbic encephalitis. Ann Neurol. 2006;59(1):178–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Josephs KA, Silber MH, Fealey RD, Nippoldt TB, Auger RG, Vernino S. Neurophysiologic studies in morvan syndrome. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2004;21(6):440–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Sixel-Doring F, Schweitzer M, Mollenhauer B, Trenkwalder C. Polysomnographic findings, video-based sleep analysis and sleep perception in progressive supranuclear palsy. Sleep Med. 2009;10(4):407–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Tan KM, Lennon VA, Klein CJ, Boeve BF, Pittock SJ. Clinical spectrum of voltage-gated potassium channel autoimmunity. Neurology. 2008;70(20):1883–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Tippmann-Peikert M, Boeve BF, Keegan BM. REM sleep behavior disorder initiated by acute brainstem multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2006;66(8):1277–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Jouvet M. F D. Locus coeruleus et sommeil paradoxal. C R Soc Biol. 1965;159:895–9.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Sakai K, Sastre JP, Salvert D, Touret M, Tohyama M, Jouvet M. Tegmentoreticular projections with special reference to the muscular atonia during paradoxical sleep in the cat: an HRP study. Brain Res. 1979;176(2):233–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Jouvet M. Structures and mechanisms for paradoxical sleep. Neurophysiology of the States of Sleep: The American Physiological Society; 1967:146–157.

  73. •• Lu J, Sherman D, Devor M, Saper CB. A putative flip-flop switch for control of REM sleep. Nature. 2006;441(7093):589–594. This landmark paper presents data in an animal model supporting the flip-flop switch mechanism of REM sleep control, and the pertinence of this mechanism to understanding normal and abnormal REM sleep in humans.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Knudsen S, Gammeltoft S, Jennum PJ. Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in patients with narcolepsy is associated with hypocretin-1 deficiency. Brain: J Neurol. 2010;133(Pt 2):568–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Anderson KN, Vincent A, Smith IE, Shneerson JM. Cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin levels are normal in idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder. Eur J Neurol. 2010;17(8):1105–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. •• Braak H, Ghebremedhin E, Rub U, Bratzke H, Del Tredici K. Stages in the development of Parkinson’s disease-related pathology. Cell Tissue Res. 2004;318(1):121–134. This outstanding paper reviews in significant detail the six stages of PD pathology, which meshes with observation of RBD preceding the onset of parkinsonism and cognitive impairment in those with evolving PD.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Thannickal TC, Lai YY, Siegel JM. Hypocretin (orexin) cell loss in Parkinson’s disease. Brain: J Neurol. 2007;130(Pt 6):1586–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Howell MJ, Arneson PA, Schenck CH. A novel therapy for REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). J Clin Sleep Med. 2011;7(6):639–644A.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Boeve BF, Silber MH, Ferman TJ. Melatonin for treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder in neurologic disorders: results in 14 patients. Sleep Med. 2003;4(4):281–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Kunz D, Bes F. Melatonin as a therapy in REM sleep behavior disorder patients: an open-labeled pilot study on the possible influence of melatonin on REM-sleep regulation. Mov Disord: Off J Mov Disord Soc. 1999;14(3):507–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Kunz D, Mahlberg R. A two-part, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of exogenous melatonin in REM sleep behaviour disorder. J Sleep Res. 2010;19(4):591–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Schenck CH, Mahowald MW. A polysomnographic, neurologic, psychiatric and clinical outcome report on 70 consecutive cases with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD): sustained clonzepam efficacy in 89.5% of 57 treated patients. Clev Clin J Med. 1990;57(Suppl):10–24.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Bonakis A, Howard RS, Williams A. Narcolepsy presenting as REM sleep behaviour disorder. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008;110(5):518–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Schenck CH, Mahowald MW. Long-term, nightly benzodiazepine treatment of injurious parasomnias and other disorders of disrupted nocturnal sleep in 170 adults. Am J Med. 1996;100(3):333–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Mahowald MW, CH S. REM sleep parasomnias In: M.H. K, T R, WC D, eds. Principles and practice of sleep medicine. 4 ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2005:897–916.

  86. Anderson KN, Shneerson JM. Drug treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder: the use of drug therapies other than clonazepam. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(3):235–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Takeuchi N, Uchimura N, Hashizume Y, et al. Melatonin therapy for REM sleep behavior disorder. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2001;55(3):267–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. • Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J. Update on the pharmacology of REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology. 2006;67(5):742–747. This paper is an excellent review of the literature on treatments for RBD.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Garcia-Borreguero D, Caminero AB, De La Llave Y, et al. Decreased phasic EMG activity during rapid eye movement sleep in treatment-naive Parkinson’s disease: effects of treatment with levodopa and progression of illness. Mov Disord: Off J Mov Disord Soc. 2002;17(5):934–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Fantini ML, Gagnon JF, Filipini D, Montplaisir J. The effects of Pramipexole in REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology. 2003;61(10):1418–20.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Kumru H, Iranzo A, Carrasco E, et al. Lack of effects of Pramipexole on REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson disease. Sleep. 2008;31(10):1418–21.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Schmidt MH, Koshal VB, Schmidt HS. Use of Pramipexole in REM sleep behavior disorder: results from a case series. Sleep Med. 2006;7(5):418–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Massironi G, Galluzzi S, Frisoni GB. Drug treatment of REM sleep behavior disorders in dementia with Lewy bodies. Intern Psychogeriatr/IPA. 2003;15(4):377–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Ringman JM, Simmons JH. Treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder with donepezil: a report of three cases. Neurology. 2000;55(6):870–1.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Shinno H, Kamei M, Nakamura Y, Inami Y, Horiguchi J. Successful treatment with Yi-Gan San for rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Prog Neuro-psychopharmacol Biological Psychiat. 2008;32(7):1749–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  96. Boeve B. Predicting the future in idiopathic rapid-eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. Lancet Neurol. 2010;9:1040–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This publication was made possible by the following grants: 1 UL1 RR024150 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research; P50 AG016574, UO1 AG006786, RO1 AG015866, the Mangurian Foundation, and the Robert H. and Clarice Smith and Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program of the Mayo Foundation. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official view of NCRR or NIH. Information on NCRR is available at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/. Information on Reengineering the Clinical Research Enterprise can be obtained from http://nihroadmap.nih.gov.

Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: S.J. McCarter: none; E.K. St. Louis: has received grant support from NCRR/NIH and Mayo CTSA; and has received consultant’s fees for service on clinical trial adverse events committee for an investigational treatment for obstructive sleep apnea from Inspire, Inc.; B.F. Boeve: has received grant support from NIH, Cephalon, Inc., Allon Pharmaceuticals, Mangurian Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, and GE Healthcare; he is the Co-editor of “Behavioral Neurology of Dementia” text; and he has received payment for development of educational presentations from the American Academy of Neurology.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine and Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Stuart J. McCarter, Erik K. St. Louis & Bradley F. Boeve

Authors
  1. Stuart J. McCarter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erik K. St. Louis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bradley F. Boeve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bradley F. Boeve.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0261-z.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McCarter, S.J., St. Louis, E.K. & Boeve, B.F. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and REM Sleep Without Atonia as an Early Manifestation of Degenerative Neurological Disease. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 12, 182–192 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0253-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0253-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation