Objective: Determine prevalence of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) in Sun City, Arizona

Background: RBD is the strongest known clinical risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders associated with abnormal alpha-synuclein aggregation including Parkinson disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy; however prevalence data necessary to guide design of prevention trials are limited.

Methods: We designed a survey using the RBD single item question (RBD1Q) for probable RBD (pRBD), “have you ever been told, or suspected yourself, that you act out your dreams while asleep (for example, punching; flailing your arms; making running movements; shouting out loud; knocking things over; jumping out of bed)?” and the Innsbruck RBD Inventory for high-likelihood RBD (HL-RBD). Four out of 5 “yes” responses to these more specific questions have been shown to increase specificity of RBD1Q in a community-based sample.1 Attempts by telephone and mail were made to administer it to 1000 individuals in the Sun City, Arizona zip code. Individuals answering “yes” to 4/5 Inventory questions were considered to have HL-RBD.

Results: Of 3,000 individuals contacted, there were 484 respondents (response rate 16%), who were 96.7% Caucasion, mean age 78 (SD 8.5.) Of these, 48 (9.9%) endorsed pRBD by RBD1Q, 7 with history of PD or other potential cause of RBD. 16 (4%) had HL-pRBD, 3 with history of potential secondary cause.

Conclusions: Previous research suggests that 66% of HL-pRBD respondents will have polysomnogram confirmed RBD [1.] Recognizing potential limitation of respondent bias, prevalence of idiopathic cases (without associated manifest neurological disorders) was 8.5% pRBD and 2.7% HL-RBD in our retirement community with a mean age 78.

References: 1. Postuma RB, Pelletier A, Berg D, Gagnon JF, Escudier F, Montplaisir J. Screening for prodromal Parkinson’s disease in the general community: a sleep-based approach. Sleep Med 2016;21:101-105.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-rem-sleep-behavior-disorder-in-sun-city-arizona/