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62/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 62 out of 100. Getting a diagnosis

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Objective Idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a potential preclinical marker for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia. However, the long-term risk of developing neurodegeneration in patients with idiopathic RBD has not been established. Obtaining an accurate picture of this risk is essential for counseling patients and for development of potential neuroprotective therapies. Methods We conducted a follow-up study of all patients seen at the sleep disorders laboratory at the Hôpital du Sacré Coeur with a diagnosis of idiopathic RBD. Diagnoses of parkinsonism and dementia were defined according to standard criteria. Survival curves were constructed to estimate the 5-, 10-, and 12-year risk of developing neurodegenerative disease. Results Of 113 patients, 93 (82%) met inclusion criteria. The mean age of participants was 65.4 years and 75 patients (80.4%) were men. Over the follow-up period, 26/93 patients developed a neurodegenerative disorder. A total of 14 patients developed PD, 7 developed Lewy body dementia, 4 developed dementia that met clinical criteria for AD, and 1 developed multiple system atrophy. The estimated 5-year risk of neurodegenerative disease was 17.7%, the 10-year risk was 40.6%, and the 12-year risk was 52.4%. Conclusions Although we have found a slightly lower risk than other reports, the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder is substantial, with the majority of patients developing Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia.

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APA 7th

Postuma, R. B., Gagnon, J. F., Vendette, M., Fantini, M. L., Massicotte-Marquez, J., & Montplaisir, J. (2009). Quantifying the risk of neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000340980.19702.6e

Vancouver

Postuma RB, Gagnon JF, Vendette M, Fantini ML, Massicotte-Marquez J, Montplaisir J. Quantifying the risk of neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology. 2009. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000340980.19702.6e. PMID: 19109537.

BibTeX

@article{postuma2009-19109537,
  author  = {Postuma, R. B. and Gagnon, J. F. and Vendette, M. and Fantini, M. L. and Massicotte-Marquez, J. and Montplaisir, J.},
  title   = {{Quantifying the risk of neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder}},
  journal = {Neurology},
  year    = {2009},
  doi     = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000340980.19702.6e},
  pmid    = {19109537},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000340980.19702.6e}
}

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Key findings

Results Of 113 patients, 93 (82%) met inclusion criteria.
Conclusions Although we have found a slightly lower risk than other reports, the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder is substantial, with the majority of patients developing Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia.

Why it matters

This follow-up study estimated that patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder have a substantial risk of developing neurodegenerative disease, mostly Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia. It is about estimating risk and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.

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Study details

Participants113
Effect size80.4%; 17.7%; 40.6%
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 62/100

Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	9 / 10	Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology)
Journal's citation record	4 / 4	Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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	1 / 5	2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	2 / 4	113 participants
Effect reported	2 / 3	Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	6 / 7	Cited 770 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	4 / 5	40.5 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009
Impact for its field and year	5 / 6	Cited 24.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	3 / 6	Cited by 23 other studies in this library
Still being cited	3 / 4	Cited 75 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author Jacques Yves Montplaisir: h-index 117 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	McGill University: institution h-index 1,373 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19109537)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	62 / 100	—

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