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Alterations in non-REM sleep and EEG spectra precede REM-sleep deficits in a model of synucleinopathy
Christopher Käufer, Miloš Stanojlović, Alina Schidlitzki, Jana Bonsberger, Alexander Storch, Franziska Richter. Journal of Parkinson s Disease, 2025-01-27
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
BackgroundSleep disturbances often precede motor symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Neuroinflammation is implicated in PD pathophysiology and may contribute to non-motor symptoms such as sleep disturbances. The Thy1-αSyn mouse model, overexpressing human alpha-synuclein (αSyn), mimics key aspects of PD and DLB, making it valuable for studying related sleep disturbances and neuroinflammatory changes.ObjectiveTo investigate early-stage alterations in sleep architecture, electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns, and neuroinflammation in Thy1-αSyn mice.MethodsWe used telemetric EEG/electromyography (EMG) with video surveillance to compare sleep patterns and EEG spectral power between 2.5- and 4.5-month-old male Thy1-αSyn transgenic mice and wild-type littermates. Neuroinflammation was assessed by examining microglial (Iba1) and astrocytic (GFAP) activation in key sleep-regulating brain regions.ResultsThy1-αSyn mice showed decreased resting wake time and increased non-REM sleep, with altered sleep bout frequency and length, indicating significant sleep architecture changes. Spectral analysis revealed a shift from higher to lower frequency bands, suggesting early neural circuitry disruptions due to αSyn overexpression. Significant microglial activation was observed at 3 months, with astrogliosis progressing by 5 months in key sleep-regulating regions, indicating that neuroinflammation may contribute to the observed sleep disturbances.ConclusionsEarly-stage Thy1-αSyn mice exhibit significant sleep architecture changes, EEG spectral shifts, and neuroinflammatory alterations. These findings suggest that neuroinflammation may play a role in the initial pathophysiological changes in PD and related synucleinopathies. Sleep, EEG, and neuroinflammatory changes could serve as early biomarkers for these diseases.
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APA 7th
Käufer, C., Stanojlović, M., Schidlitzki, A., Bonsberger, J., Storch, A., & Richter, F. (2025). Alterations in non-REM sleep and EEG spectra precede REM-sleep deficits in a model of synucleinopathy. Journal of Parkinson s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/1877718x241310723
Vancouver
Käufer C, Stanojlović M, Schidlitzki A, Bonsberger J, Storch A, Richter F. Alterations in non-REM sleep and EEG spectra precede REM-sleep deficits in a model of synucleinopathy. Journal of Parkinson s Disease. 2025. doi:10.1177/1877718x241310723. PMID: 39973511.
BibTeX
@article{kaufer2025-39973511,
author = {Käufer, Christopher and Stanojlović, Miloš and Schidlitzki, Alina and Bonsberger, Jana and Storch, Alexander and Richter, Franziska},
title = {{Alterations in non-REM sleep and EEG spectra precede REM-sleep deficits in a model of synucleinopathy}},
journal = {Journal of Parkinson s Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/1877718x241310723},
pmid = {39973511},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1877718x241310723}
}
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Key findings
- Neuroinflammation was assessed by examining microglial (Iba1) and astrocytic (GFAP) activation in key sleep-regulating brain regions.ResultsThy1-αSyn mice showed decreased resting wake time and increased non-REM sleep, with altered sleep bout frequency and length, indicating significant sleep architecture changes.
- Spectral analysis revealed a shift from higher to lower frequency bands, suggesting early neural circuitry disruptions due to αSyn overexpression.
- Significant microglial activation was observed at 3 months, with astrogliosis progressing by 5 months in key sleep-regulating regions, indicating that neuroinflammation may contribute to the observed sleep disturbances.ConclusionsEarly-stage Thy1-αSyn mice exhibit significant sleep architecture changes, EEG spectral shifts, and neuroinflammatory alterations.
- These findings suggest that neuroinflammation may play a role in the initial pathophysiological changes in PD and related synucleinopathies.
Why it matters
In a mouse model of synucleinopathy, sleep architecture changes and brain wave shifts occurred early, along with signs of brain inflammation, before REM sleep deficits appeared. These early sleep and inflammation changes may help understand how sleep problems develop in diseases like Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies, but this is animal research.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Parkinson s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Parkinson s Disease: journal h-index 97 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 10 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Franziska Richter: h-index 28 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Rostock: institution h-index 539 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39973511) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/1877718x241310723
- PubMed: 39973511
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Parkinson s Disease →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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