Biomarkers of conversion to α-synucleinopathy in isolated rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder

Patients with isolated rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) are commonly regarded as being in the early stages of a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving alpha-synuclein pathology, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy. Abnormal alpha-synuclein deposition occurs early in the neurodegenerative process across the central and peripheral nervous systems and might precede the appearance of motor symptoms and cognitive decline by several decades. These findings provide the rationale to develop reliable biomarkers that can better predict conversion to clinically manifest alpha-synucleinopathies. In addition, biomarkers of disease progression will be essential to monitor treatment response once disease-modifying therapies become available, and biomarkers of disease subtype will be essential to enable prediction of which subtype of alpha-synucleinopathy patients with isolated RBD might develop.

Automated summary

Patients with isolated rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) are considered to be in the early stages of progressive neurodegenerative diseases involving alpha-synuclein pathology, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy. Developing reliable biomarkers is crucial for predicting disease progression, monitoring treatment response, and predicting the subtype of alpha-synucleinopathy patients with isolated RBD.