Objective: To detect the expression of two circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) compared to patients with Parkinson´s Disease (PD).
Background: PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. RBD may precede several years the onset of PD. The study of miRNAs biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders is evolving and recent evidence suggests that blood circulating miRNAs are potentially useful biomarkers for PD.
Method: 15 RBD patients, 10 PD patients and 15 healthy controls (HC) were included. The patients were evaluated using the UPDRS and H&Y scales, Hong Kong Screening Questionnaire (RBDQ-HKQ), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa), Cognitive SCOPA (SCOPA-COG), Autonomic SCOPA, Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Vision Test, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Plasma samples were collected followed by a real time PCR based miRNA screening to detect changes of miRNA expression.
Results: PD and RBD patients presented increased values as compared to HC for PSQI (PD:7.1 ±2.8, RBD:7.6± 4.8, HC: 4.3 ±3.7), ESS (PD:6.5 ±2.3, RBD:7.4±3.2, HC: 4.1±1.8) and FM100HCVT (PD:165±33, RBD:169±125, HC:86.4±57.8), p<0.005.
The serum levels of miRNA 29a were significantly decreased (PD:0.14±0.4, RBD: 0.32±0.4, HC:0.61±0.5), and miRNA 27 (PD:0.06±0.5, RBD:0.11±0.5, HC:0.04±0.7) was significantly increased in patients with RBD and PD, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test p<0.005. A non significant correlation between increased values of FM 100HCVT and miRNA levels were found in PD and RBD.
Conclusion: Serum miRNAs were downregulated/upregulated in patients with PD and RBD. This study shows that the early detection of altered plasma levels of miRNAs may be considered as a potential biomarker in RBD patients.
*Abstract presented at 2020 American Academy of Neurology
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Peralta, D. Giardino, A. Garay, J. Fededa, S. Valiensi, V. Barrachina. Is it time to consider circulating microRNAs as a diagnostic biomarker in REM sleep behavior disorder? [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2020; 35 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/is-it-time-to-consider-circulating-micrornas-as-a-diagnostic-biomarker-in-rem-sleep-behavior-disorder/. Accessed October 16, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/is-it-time-to-consider-circulating-micrornas-as-a-diagnostic-biomarker-in-rem-sleep-behavior-disorder/