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ObjectivesWe aimed to provide a consensus statement by the International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group (IRBD-SG) on devising controlled active treatment studies in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and devising studies of neuroprotection against Parkinson disease (PD) and related neurodegeneration in RBD.MethodsThe consensus statement was generated during the fourth IRBD-SG symposium in Marburg, Germany in 2011. The IRBD-SG identified essential methodologic components for a randomized trial in RBD, including potential screening and diagnostic criteria, inclusion and exclusion criteria, primary and secondary outcomes for symptomatic therapy trials (particularly for melatonin and clonazepam), and potential primary and secondary outcomes for eventual trials with disease-modifying and neuroprotective agents. The latter trials are considered urgent, given the high conversion rate from idiopathic RBD (iRBD) to Parkinsonian disorders (i.e., PD, dementia with Lewy bodies [DLB], multiple system atrophy [MSA]).ResultsSix inclusion criteria were identified for symptomatic therapy and neuroprotective trials: (1) diagnosis of RBD needs to satisfy the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, second edition, (ICSD-2) criteria; (2) minimum frequency of RBD episodes should preferably be ⩾2 times weekly to allow for assessment of change; (3) if the PD-RBD target population is included, it should be in the early stages of PD defined as Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3 in Off (untreated); (4) iRBD patients with soft neurologic dysfunction and with operational criteria established by the consensus of study investigators; (5) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and (6) optimally treated comorbid OSA. Twenty-four exclusion criteria were identified. The primary outcome measure for RBD treatment trials was determined to be the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) efficacy index, consisting of a four-point scale with a four-point side-effect scale. Assessment of video-polysomnographic (vPSG) changes holds promise but is costly and needs further elaboration. Secondary outcome measures include sleep diaries; sleepiness scales; PD sleep scale 2 (PDSS-2); serial motor examinations; cognitive indices; mood and anxiety indices; assessment of frequency of falls, gait impairment, and apathy; fatigue severity scale; and actigraphy and customized bed alarm systems. Consensus also was established for evaluating the clinical and vPSG aspects of RBD. End points for neuroprotective trials in RBD, taking lessons from research in PD, should be focused on the ultimate goal of determining the performance of disease-modifying agents. To date no compound with convincing evidence of disease-modifying or neuroprotective efficacy has been identified in PD. Nevertheless, iRBD patients are considered ideal candidates for neuroprotective studies.ConclusionsThe IRBD-SG provides an important platform for developing multinational collaborative studies on RBD such as on environmental risk factors for iRBD, as recently reported in a peer-reviewed journal article, and on controlled active treatment studies for symptomatic and neuroprotective therapy that emerged during the 2011 consensus conference in Marburg, Germany, as described in our report.

Updated guidelines for the video-polysomnography (vPSG) procedures for diagnosing rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and the identification of its prodromal stages have recently been proposed by the Neurophysiology Working Group of the International RBD Study Group (IRBDSG). These guidelines were selected for review by a World Sleep Society (WSS) Parasomnias Task Force and the WSS International Sleep Medicine Guidelines Committee. A survey was completed by sleep society leaders and prominent sleep clinicians and researchers in 31 WSS member countries across six continents, focused on sleep technologist training and certification; extent of public/private health insurance coverage for the vPSG evaluation of RBD; extent of hospital-based sleep-technologist-attended overnight vPSG studies; availability of video during PSG studies; and sufficient specification of PSG machines to record and analyze REM sleep without atonia. The findings from this survey indicated that most health systems and medical communities across WSS member countries would not be capable of implementing the proposed more stringent guidelines, which would then strongly interfere with the diagnosis of RBD in a large portion of patients who would not be able to receive the required (often repeated) vPSG evaluation. Therefore, the WSS can only partially endorse the updated guidelines and concludes that the current International Classification of Sleep Disorders-3rd edition diagnostic criteria for RBD should still be retained as the standard reference for the diagnosis of RBD, and that further discussion across all members of the IRBDSG should take place to ensure the feasibility of any future proposed changes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest On behalf of all authors, we are submitting an original manuscript (with Supplemental material) that has been through multiple rounds of peer review by the World Sleep Society International Sleep Medicine Guidelines Committee and the WSS Governing Council with subsequent approval by both groups. The title of the manuscript is the following: “Partial endorsement of: ‘Video-polysomnography procedures for diagnosis of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and the identification of its prodromal stages: Guidelines from the International RBD Study Group’ by the World Sleep Society”., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background/objectives: Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder that leads to copper overload, mainly in the liver then, in the brain. Patients with WD often complain about sleep disorders. We aimed to explore them., Patients/methods: Sleep complaints and disease symptoms were compared in 40 patients with WD (20 patients with hepatic phenotype matched to 20 neurologic one) and 40 age, sex and BMI matched healthy controls., Results: Patients with WD had more frequently (32.5 vs 10.0%, p < 0.05) and more severe (10.5 ± 6.0 vs 7.6 ± 4.8, p < 0.01) insomnia than controls and insomnia was more severe in neurologic than hepatic form of the disease (12.25 ± 5.89 vs 8.73 ± 5.8, p < 0.05). Insomnia severity was correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Compared to controls, patients reported more difficulties staying asleep and more consequences of insomnia on their quality of life. REM sleep behavior disorder was more frequent in WD (20 vs 0%, p = 0.005) than controls. Patients complained more frequently of nycturia (22.8 vs 7.6%, p = 0.003) than controls. Patients did not differ from controls for sleepiness, restless legs syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Patients did not report cataplexia., Conclusion: In patients with WD, insomnia and REM sleep behavior disorder are the two main sleep complaints. Insomnia is more frequent in neurologic than hepatic form of the disease. Severity of insomnia is associated with the severity of depressive symptoms., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is efficacious in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, this treatment is often not well tolerated in this disabled population. We explored, in a pilot study, the efficacy, observance, and usability of mandibular advancement device (MAD) for the treatment of OSAS in this peculiar population., Patients/methods: Twenty patients with PD and moderate or severe OSAS were included in the study. Ten patients had refused or not tolerated the validated treatment with CPAP so that they were treated with MAD. The patients treated with MAD were matched for sex, age and body mass index (BMI) to 10 patients with PD treated with CPAP. We explored the efficacy of MAD on sleep disorders complaints (PDSS-2) and on sleep recordings. We compared adherence, tolerance and usability with MAD and with CPAP., Results: MAD improved sleep complaints increasing PDSS-2 scores (85 [55-106] vs 106 [88-126], p < 0.005), and sleep respiratory measures reducing apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) (50.8 [30.0-76.4] vs 9.4 [5.0-45.2], <0.001) and oxygen desaturation index (22.9 [2.1-92.0] vs 3.8 [0.2-34.2], p < 0.05). Observance was higher with MAD than with CPAP. Usability and caregiver satisfaction were higher with MAD than with CPAP whereas side effects were similarly reported., Conclusion: Mandibular advancement device may be an noteworthy alternative treatment of OSAS in patients with PD., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a fascinating parasomnia in which patients are able to enact their dreams because of a lack of muscle atonia during REM sleep. RBD represents a unique window into the dream world. Frequently associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), RBD raises various issues about dream modifications in this pathology and about aggressiveness during RBD episodes in placid patients during wakefulness. Studies on these behaviors have underlined their non-stereotyped, action-filled and violent characteristics but also their isomorphism with dream content. Complex, learnt behaviors may reflect the cortical involvement in this parasomnia but the more frequent elementary movements and the associated periodic limb movements during sleep also implicate the brainstem. Surprisingly, patients with PD have an improvement of their movements during their RBD as if they were disease-free. Also not yet understood, this improvement of movement during REM sleep raises issues about the pathways involved in RBD and about the possibility of using this pathway to improve movement in PD during the day., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)