Impaired Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Across the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Spectrum: Evidence From Isolated REM Sleep Without Atonia to Parkinson's Disease With RBD.
- 1Sleep Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- 2Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Abstract
Objectives
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) and dream-enactment behaviors and is recognized as a prodromal manifestation of α-synucleinopathies. Isolated RSWA (iRSWA) has been proposed as a potential early stage within the RBD spectrum, although its clinical and physiological significance remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate alterations in sleep architecture, phasic muscle activity, and dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) across the spectrum from iRSWA to isolated RBD (iRBD) and Parkinson's disease with RBD (PD + RBD).Methods
We conducted a case-control study involving patients with iRSWA, iRBD, and PD + RBD, as well as age- and sex-matched healthy controls, based on video-polysomnography and magnetic resonance imaging. Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic Dysfunction (SCOPA-AUT) were used to evaluate the autonomic function. Transcranial Doppler and finger plethysmography were used to assess dCA by analyzing the phase difference using transfer function analysis.Results
A total of 25 patients with iRSWA, 30 with iRBD, 28 with PD + RBD, and 30 healthy controls were included. REM sleep percentage was significantly lower in the iRBD and PD + RBD groups than in controls. Phasic RSWA, but not tonic RSWA, differed significantly among the three patient groups (p < 0.001). Phase difference was significantly lower in all three patient groups than in controls (p < 0.001) and was significantly associated with REM sleep amount and phasic RSWA (both p < 0.001).Conclusions
These findings suggest that dCA is impaired in patients with iRSWA, iRBD, and PD + RBD. Reduced phase difference was associated with lower REM sleep amount and greater phasic RSWA, suggesting disrupted coupling among REM sleep regulation, autonomic function, and cerebrovascular control. dCA dysfunction may represent an early pathophysiological feature in RBD-related neurodegeneration.Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02752139.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026impaired,
title = {{Impaired Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Across the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Spectrum: Evidence From Isolated REM Sleep Without Atonia to Parkinson's Disease With RBD.}},
author = {Yanan Zhang and Ying Piao and Qingqing Sun and Huimin Li and Yaru Wang and Jun Lu and Zhenni Guo and Zan Wang},
journal = {CNS neuroscience \& therapeutics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/cns.71190},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42905881},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Impaired Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Across the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Spectrum: Evidence From Isolated REM Sleep Without Atonia to Parkinson's Disease With RBD.
AU - Yanan Zhang
AU - Ying Piao
AU - Qingqing Sun
AU - Huimin Li
AU - Yaru Wang
AU - Jun Lu
AU - Zhenni Guo
AU - Zan Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - CNS neuroscience & therapeutics
DO - 10.1002/cns.71190
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42905881
AB - Objectives Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) and dream-enactment behaviors and is recognized as a prodromal manifestation of α-synucleinopathies. Isolated RSWA (iRSWA) has been proposed as a potential early stage within the RBD spectrum, although its clinical and physiological significance remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate alterations in sleep architecture, phasic muscle activity, and dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) across the spectrum from iRSWA to isolated RBD (iRBD) and Parkinson's disease with RBD (PD + RBD).Methods We conducted a case-control study involving patients with iRSWA, iRBD, and PD + RBD, as well as age- and sex-matched healthy controls, based on video-polysomnography and magnetic resonance imaging. Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic Dysfunction (SCOPA-AUT) were used to evaluate the autonomic function. Transcranial Doppler and finger plethysmography were used to assess dCA by analyzing the phase difference using transfer function analysis.Results A total of 25 patients with iRSWA, 30 with iRBD, 28 with PD + RBD, and 30 healthy controls were included. REM sleep percentage was significantly lower in the iRBD and PD + RBD groups than in controls. Phasic RSWA, but not tonic RSWA, differed significantly among the three patient groups (p < 0.001). Phase difference was significantly lower in all three patient groups than in controls (p < 0.001) and was significantly associated with REM sleep amount and phasic RSWA (both p < 0.001).Conclusions These findings suggest that dCA is impaired in patients with iRSWA, iRBD, and PD + RBD. Reduced phase difference was associated with lower REM sleep amount and greater phasic RSWA, suggesting disrupted coupling among REM sleep regulation, autonomic function, and cerebrovascular control. dCA dysfunction may represent an early pathophysiological feature in RBD-related neurodegeneration.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02752139.
SN - 1755-5930
SN - 1755-5949
ER -