PREdictive Risk Factors of Conversion Into Idiopathic RBD. Italian Study
REM Sleep Behavior DisorderREM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a REM sleep parasomnia first described in 1986 and characterized by the loss of physiological muscle atonia typical of REM sleep and by the presence of abnormal, sometimes violent, motor activity often related to dream content The observed motor behaviors are often associated to vivid dreams, characterized by an aggressive-defensive content, even if pleasant dreams have been described, resulting in non-violent behaviors. Diagnosis of RBD requires video-polysomnographic recording (vPSG) at a Sleep Center, essential to identify and quantify the complete or intermittent loss of physiological muscle atonia during REM sleep (REM sleep without atonia, RSWA) and record any related motor behaviors. The exact prevalence of RBD in the general population is not known and it seems underrated, but is estimated to be 0.3-1.15%. RBD is defined as idiopathic or isolated (iRBD) when it is not associated with other neurological diseases. The so-called symptomatic RBD, on the other hand, can occur in association with neurodegenerative diseases of the spectrum of alpha-synucleinopathies which include Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (AMS), and Lewy Body Dementia (DLB). In recent years, several follow-up studies on large cohorts of iRBD patients have shown that the idiopathic form evolves towards a symptomatic form in most cases. More precisely, the risk of developing an alpha-synucleinopathies increases over time, with a conversion rate of up to 90% in some studies at 14 years. RBD represents an early marker of neurodegeneration, like a unique open window on the initial, pre-symptomatic phase of alpha-synucleinopathies, which could allow the use of neuroprotective therapies, as soon as they are available. Several longitudinal studies indicated older age, presence of hyposmia, abnormal color vision, minimal extrapyramidal motor signs, mild cognitive impairment, autonomic disturbances, and severity of loss of RSWA as risk factors for neurodegeneration. However, most studies investigated biomarkers separately, with retrospective study designs, in small cohorts or without a rigorous harmonization between centers in the case of multicenter studies. To date, however, there is no reliable pool of biomarkers that predict the phenoconversion into α-synucleinopathy, the timing in which this can occur, and the phenotype of α-synucleinopathy. Furthermore, despite clinical and research evidence suggesting that iRBD is a heterogeneous disorder little attention was paid to different iRBD phenotypes and currently, there are no relevant data on the impact of iRBD on quality of life. Actually, through neural network analysis approaches, it is possible to find out complex correlations between data from different sources (i.e., clinical examinations, questionnaires, biological data, imaging and neurophysiological techniques, etc.) and to identify subgroups of patients sharing the same substantial characteristics. Identifying different iRBD phenotypes through established as well as innovative biomarkers and standardized measures of wellbeing is crucial to better understanding alpha-synucleinopathies, developing targeted interventions, and reducing the disease burden. To this aim, clinical, biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological and imaging biomarkers need to be prospectively collected, according to standardized and harmonized procedures. This would significantly increase our understanding of the physiopathological processes of alpha-synucleinopathy from the prodromal phase. Indeed, identifying phenotype clusters with both consolidated and innovative biomarkers may lay the groundwork for a reliable characterization of iRBD patients, likely providing the basis for an efficient stratification of patients longitudinally followed. Several disease-modifying therapies are now in development, including but not limited to monoclonal antibodies against alpha-synucleinopathy. Prodromal synucleinopathy patients, such as those with iRBD, are the ideal target to test disease-modifying therapies because the neurodegeneration is still in an early stage and the likelihood to rescue both brain structures and function is higher. The last aim of the FarPResto study is to have a trial-ready cohort of iRBD patients, collected with standardized and harmonized procedures, to be enrolled in upcoming disease-modifying trials. The FARPRESTO project is endorsed by the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine (AIMS) and by The RBD_Patients society (www.sonnomed.it)
Mainz Register of Patients With Sleep Disorders
Sleep DisorderSleep Disorder Parasomnia7 moreProspective longitudinal observational registry study of all patients with sleep disorders treated in the Mainz Comprehensive Epilepsy and Sleep Medicine Center with the focus on the course of the disease and quality of life.
Gut Microbiota in the Progression of Alpha-synucleinopathies
REM Sleep Behavior DisorderThe aim of this study is to correlate baseline gut microbiota features and the progression of neurodegeneration in the established cohort of patients with early Parkinson's disease.
Efficacy and Tolerability of Ramelteon in Patients With Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Behavior Disorder...
REM Behavior DisorderParkinsonismParkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder of the elderly that affects a million patients in US. Sleep dysfunction impacts up to 90% of PD patients. PD patients experience a variety of sleep disorders including parasomnias, specifically REM behavior disorder (RBD) that can precede the onset of motor manifestations of PD. RBD has negative consequences on patients' and their bed partners' quality of life mainly due to its impact on the sleep quality and day time alertness. RBD also predisposes affected individuals and their bed partners to physical injuries. There are no FDA approved treatments for RBD. Clonazepam is the most commonly used treatment but carries risks of daytime sedation, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. More recently, melatonin has been demonstrated to be effective in several small studies. Ramelteon, a selective melatonin receptor agonist with favorable safety profile, could potentially be effective for the treatment of RBD. This pilot protocol will investigate safety and efficacy of ramelteon for the treatment of RBD in subjects with parkinsonism. We plan to recruit 20 subjects with RBD diagnosed based on the clinical interview and confirmed by the polysomnographic (PSG) data. The study is designed as a prospective randomized placebo controlled 12-week study. Primary outcome measure will be change in frequency of RBD events based on the daily sleep diaries. Secondary outcome measure will be change in the amount of tonic muscle activity based on the results of the baseline and final PSG. A number of other secondary and exploratory outcome measures will be collected
A Pilot Biomarker Study Assessing Alpha-synuclein Aggregates Across Biofluid Reservoirs in Patients...
Parkinson DiseaseMultiple System Atrophy2 moreThis will be an observational study looking at clinical and biomarker characteristics in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and matched controls. Saliva, plasma, serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples will be collected from participants.
Open-label Study of Nelotanserin in Lewy Body Dementia With Visual Hallucinations or REM Sleep Behavior...
Lewy Body DementiaDementia With Lewy Bodies3 moreThis study seeks to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of nelotanserin for the treatment of visual hallucinations (VHs) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) in subjects with Lewy body dementia (LBD).
North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium
REM Sleep Behavior DisorderParkinson Disease4 moreThis study will enroll participants with idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), for the purpose of preparing for a clinical trial of neuroprotective treatments against synucleinopathies.
Study Evaluating Nelotanserin for Treatment of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Subjects With Dementia...
Dementia With Lewy BodiesREM Sleep Behavior Disorder1 moreThis study seeks to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Nelotanserin for the treatment of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) in subjects with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD).
Effect of Clonazepam on REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Patients With Parkinsonism
REM Sleep Behavior DisorderThe purpose of this study is to determine whether clonazepam is effective and safe in the treatment of rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Implementing a National Biobank of PD With WGS and Functional Assessment of Polygenic Inheritance...
Parkinson DiseaseREM Sleep Behavior DisorderThe genetic complexity and heterogeneity of the sporadic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are posing a formidable challenge to disentangle their direct molecular causes. To advance this research, we plan to coordinate our local biorepositories of PD biological specimens creating a standardized and integrated national resource. In this framework, we plan to collect more samples from additional sporadic PD cases and to extend the sampling to patients with REM sleep behavior disease. We plan a large campaign of whole genome sequencing including about 200 patients to identify rare genomic variants plausibly associated with these diseases. In addition, we will standardize the generation and quality control of iPSC lines to make available to the scientific community. Finally, we will combine iPSC technology and gene editing to functionally assess the relative impact of rare variants in coding regions inherited together as a polygenic trait previously identified in selected sporadic PD cases