A high-density electroencephalography study reveals abnormal sleep homeostasis in patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder
Open Access
- 26 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Scientific Reports
- Vol. 11 (1), 1-13
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83980-w
Abstract
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by disrupting motor enactments during REM sleep, but also cognitive impairments across several domains. In addition to REM sleep abnormalities, we hypothesized that RBD patients may also display EEG abnormalities during NREM sleep. We collected all-night recordings with 256-channel high-density EEG in nine RBD patients, predominantly early-onset medicated individuals, nine sex- and age- matched healthy controls, and nine additional controls with matched medications and comorbidities. Power spectra in delta to gamma frequency bands were compared during both REM and NREM sleep, between phasic and tonic REM sleep, and between the first versus last cycle of NREM sleep. Controls, but not RBD patients, displayed a decrease in beta power during phasic compared to tonic REM sleep. Compared to controls, RBD patients displayed a reduced decline in SWA from early to late NREM sleep. Overnight changes in the distribution of the amplitude of slow waves were also reduced in RBD patients. Without suppression of beta rhythms during phasic REM sleep, RBD patients might demonstrate heightened cortical arousal, favoring the emergence of behavioral episodes. A blunted difference between REM sleep sub-stages may constitute a sensitive biomarker for RBD. Moreover, reduced overnight decline in SWA suggests a reduced capacity for synaptic plasticity in RBD patients, which may favor progression towards neurodegenerative diseases.Funding Information
- Swiss National Science Foundation (168567)
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (P01 AT004952, P01 AT004952, P01 AT004952)
This publication has 86 references indexed in Scilit:
- Experienced Mindfulness Meditators Exhibit Higher Parietal-Occipital EEG Gamma Activity during NREM SleepPLOS ONE, 2013
- Decision Making and Executive Functions in REM Sleep Behavior DisorderSleep, 2012
- Cognition in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior DisorderFrontiers in Neurology, 2012
- Neuropathological analysis of brainstem cholinergic and catecholaminergic nuclei in relation to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorderNeuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 2011
- Changing demographics in REM sleep behavior disorder: Possible effect of autoimmunity and antidepressantsSleep Medicine, 2011
- REM sleep behavior disorderAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2010
- Mild cognitive impairment in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and Parkinson's diseaseAnnals of Neurology, 2009
- Age‐related Changes in the Circadian and Homeostatic Regulation of Human SleepChronobiology International, 2006
- Delayed emergence of a parkinsonian disorder in 38% of 29 older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorderNeurology, 1996
- Eye Movements during Active and Passive DreamsScience, 1962