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Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder as an early marker for a neurodegenerative disorder: a descriptive study
Iranzo A, Molinuevo JL, Santamaría J, Serradell M, Martí MJ, Valldeoriola F, Tolosa E.. The Lancet. Neurology, 2006-07-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterised by dream-enacting behaviours related to unpleasant dreams and loss of muscle atonia during REM sleep. RBD may be idiopathic or associated with neurological disease. Available data suggest that in some cases RBD might be the initial manifestation of a neurodegenerative disease. We sought to determine the frequency and nature of neurological disorders developing in patients diagnosed with idiopathic RBD at our sleep centre. Methods We retrospectively assessed 44 consecutive patients (39 men and five women with a mean age of 74 years), with at least 2 years of clinical follow-up after a diagnosis of idiopathic RBD, through a detailed clinical history, complete neurological examination, rating scales of parkinsonism, and neuropsychological tests. Findings 20 (45%) patients developed a neurological disorder after a mean of 11.5 years from the reported onset of RBD and a mean follow-up of 5.1 years from the diagnosis of idiopathic RBD at our sleep centre. Emerging disorders were Parkinson's disease in nine patients, dementia with Lewy bodies in six, multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar syndrome in one, and mild cognitive impairment in four in whom visuospatial dysfunction was prominent. Patients with longer clinical follow-up developed a neurological disease (OR 1.512, 95% CI 1.105-2.069; p=0.010). Interpretation Our study indicates that in people presenting to sleep centres, RBD often antedates the development of a neurodegenerative disorder. Close follow-up of patients with idiopathic RBD could enable early detection of neurodegenerative disease. This finding may be of great interest when early effective treatment strategies and neuroprotective drugs become available.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Iranzo, A., Molinuevo, J. L., Santamaría, J., Serradell, M., Martí, M. J., Valldeoriola, F., et al. (2006). Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder as an early marker for a neurodegenerative disorder: a descriptive study. The Lancet. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(06)70476-8
Vancouver
Iranzo A, Molinuevo JL, Santamaría J, Serradell M, Martí MJ, Valldeoriola F, et al. Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder as an early marker for a neurodegenerative disorder: a descriptive study. The Lancet. Neurology. 2006. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(06)70476-8. PMID: 16781987.
BibTeX
@article{iranzo2006-16781987,
author = {Iranzo, A. and Molinuevo, J. L. and Santamaría, J. and Serradell, M. and Martí, M. J. and Valldeoriola, F. and Tolosa, E.},
title = {{Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder as an early marker for a neurodegenerative disorder: a descriptive study}},
journal = {The Lancet. Neurology},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1016/s1474-4422(06)70476-8},
pmid = {16781987},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(06)70476-8}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- RBD may be idiopathic or associated with neurological disease.
- Available data suggest that in some cases RBD might be the initial manifestation of a neurodegenerative disease.
- Interpretation Our study indicates that in people presenting to sleep centres, RBD often antedates the development of a neurodegenerative disorder.
Why it matters
Among 44 patients diagnosed with idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder, 20 (45%) later developed a neurological disorder such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies or mild cognitive impairment. This suggests RBD can appear before these disorders, which may help identify people early, but it does not show how to treat, cure or prevent them.
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Study details
- Effect sizeOR 1.512
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (The Lancet. Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Lancet Neurology: journal h-index 457 (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 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 953 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 43.3 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 23.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 19 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 65 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Eduard S. Tolosa: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Hospital Clínic de Barcelona: institution h-index 827 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16781987) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
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