Preclinical dopaminergic dysfunction in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Abstract

Patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder have been reported to be at increased risk for developing Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy. 6-[18F]fluoro-l-m-tyrosine/Positron emission topography (PET) is useful for evaluating PD patients from the early stage of the disease. Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity is a marker of vulnerability to PD. Decrease in 6-[18F]fluoro-l-m-tyrosine uptake in the striatum or hyperechogenic alterations in the substantia nigra may suggest the existence of an underlying neurodegenerative disorder such as PD or dementia with Lewy bodies associated with preclinical dopaminergic dysfunction in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. © 2013 The Authors Sleep and Biological Rhythms © 2013 Japanese Society of Sleep Research.