More Evidence Linking REM Behavioral Disorder to Parkinson Disease

The deposition and spread of aggregates of the protein α-synuclein has been evolving as an important construct underpinning our understanding of Parkinson disease. In this case-control analysis, researchers employed imaging studies of sympathetic, parasympathetic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic innervation in patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder. The researchers compared 22 patients with REM disorder and no Parkinson features to historical data from patients diagnosed with symptomatic Parkinson disease and from healthy controls. A variety of radiolabeled imaging compounds were used to assess neuronal uptake in several areas: cholinergic, cardiac sympathetic, locus coeruleus pigmented cells, noradrenergic nerve loc…