Pain & Central Nervous System Week

Reports from M. Vendette and co-researchers add new data to research in behavior disorders

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"Waking EEG slowing in nondemented PD has been related to the presence of RBD, a parasomnia affecting brainstem structures and frequently reported in PD. For this reason, RBD may be associated with cognitive impairment in PD. Thirty-four patients with PD ( 18 patients with polysomnographic-confirmed RBD and 16 patients without RBD) and 25 healthy control subjects matched for age and educational level underwent sleep laboratory recordings and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Patients with PD and concomitant RBD showed significantly poorer performance on standardized tests measuring episodic verbal memory, executive functions, as well as visuospatial and visuoperceptual processing compared to both patients with PD without RBD and control subjects. Patients with PD without RBD had no detectable cognitive impairment compared to controls," wrote M. Vendette and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "This study shows that cognitive impairment in nondemented patients with Parkinson disease ( PD) is closely related to the presence of REM sleep behavior disorder, a sleep disturbance that was not controlled for in previous studies assessing cognitive deficits in PD."

Vendette and colleagues published the results of their research in Neurology (REM sleep behavior disorder predicts cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease without dementia. Neurology, 2007;69(19):1843-1849).

For additional information, contact J. Montplaisir, Hopital Sacre Coeur, Center Etud Sommeil & Rythmes Biology, 5400 Boul Gouin Ouest, Montreal, PQ H4J 1C5, Canada.

The publisher of the journal Neurology can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

Keywords: Canada, Montreal, Behavior Disorders, Behavior Disorder, Central Nervous System Disease, Dementia, Developmental Disabilities, Neurology, Parasomnias, Parkinson Disease, Psychiatry, Urology.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.