Probable RBD and Association with Neurodegenerative Disease Markers: A Population-based Study

Background: The prevalence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and its association with markers of neurodegeneration in the general population are poorly defined.

Methods: We assessed the prevalence of probable RBD defined by two validated questionnaires, the RBD Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ) and the Innsbruck RBD-Inventory (RBD-I), and studied its associations with clinical and imaging markers for neurodegeneration in the Bruneck Study cohort aged 60 y or older.

Results: Of the 456 participants without Parkinson's disease, 4.6% (RBDSQ; 95%CI, 3.0%-7.0%) and 7.7% (RBD-I; 95%CI, 5.6%-10.5%) had probable RBD. Probable RBD diagnosed with either of the questionnaires was associated with hyposmia (trend; P < 0.1), anxiety (P < 0.05), depression (P < 0.05), antidepressant use (P < 0.05), and self-reported non-motor symptoms (P < 0.01), specifically, dribbling saliva, memory problems, apathy, concentration problems, and anxiety.

Conclusions: Our findings may provide a basis for future studies intending to identify cohorts at risk for Lewy body diseases through screening of the general elderly population for RBD.