Executive dysfunction and memory impairment in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder.
BACKGROUND
Idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) might be a stage in the development of neurodegenerative disorders, especially Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Recent studies showing a slowing of waking EEG in iRBD suggest that iRBD is associated with cognitive impairment.


OBJECTIVE
To compare patients with iRBD on measures of cognitive function and quantitative waking EEG.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with iRBD and 14 healthy control subjects matched for age and educational level were studied. Subjects underwent an extensive neuropsychological evaluation and waking EEG recordings.


RESULTS
Compared to controls, patients with iRBD showed a lower performance on neuropsychological tests measuring attention, executive functions, and verbal memory. Moreover, patients with iRBD showed EEG slowing (higher delta and theta power) during wakefulness in all brain areas compared to controls. However, no correlation was found between performance on cognitive tests and quantitative waking EEG in patients with iRBD.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a co-occurrence of impaired cognitive profile and waking EEG slowing in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder similar to that observed in early stages of some synucleinopathies.
Massicotte-Marquez
J
J
Centre d'Etude du Sommeil et des Rythmes Biologiques, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, 5400 Boul. Gouin Ouest Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Décary
A
A
Gagnon
J-F
JF
Vendette
M
M
Mathieu
A
A
Postuma
R B
RB
Carrier
J
J
Montplaisir
J
J
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D020187:REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology