Parkinson's disease and REM sleep behavior disorder result in increased non-motor symptoms

Sleep Med. 2014 Aug;15(8):959-66. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.04.009. Epub 2014 May 10.

Abstract

Objective: Rapid eye movement (REM)-sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is often comorbid with Parkinson's disease (PD). The current study aimed to provide a detailed understanding of the impact of having RBD on multiple non-motor symptoms (NMS) in patients with PD.

Methods: A total of 86 participants were evaluated for RBD and assessed for multiple NMS of PD. Principal component analysis was utilized to model multiple measures of NMS in PD, and a multivariate analysis of variance was used to assess the relationship between RBD and the multiple NMS measures. Seven NMS measures were assessed: cognition, quality of life, fatigue, sleepiness, overall sleep, mood, and overall NMS of PD.

Results: Among the PD patients, 36 were classified as having RBD (objective polysomnography and subjective findings), 26 as not having RBD (neither objective nor subjective findings), and 24 as probably having RBD (either subjective or objective findings). RBD was a significant predictor of increased NMS in PD while controlling for dopaminergic therapy and age (p=0.01). The RBD group reported more NMS of depression (p=0.012), fatigue (p=0.036), overall sleep (p=0.018), and overall NMS (p=0.002).

Conclusion: In PD, RBD is associated with more NMS, particularly increased depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. More research is needed to assess whether PD patients with RBD represent a subtype of PD with different disease progression and phenomenological presentation.

Keywords: Daytime sleepiness; Fatigue; Mood; Non-motor symptoms; Parkinson’s disease; Quality of life; REM sleep behavior disorder; Sleep disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Affect
  • Aged
  • Depression / etiology
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology
  • Polysomnography
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / complications*
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / physiopathology
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / psychology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires