Presynaptic Dopaminergic Imaging Characterizes Patients with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Due to Synucleinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To apply a machine learning analysis to clinical and presynaptic dopaminergic imaging data of patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) to predict the development of Parkinson disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). METHODS: In this multicenter study of the International RBD study group, 173 patients (mean age 70.5 ± 6.3 years, 70.5% males) with polysomnography-confirmed RBD who eventually phenoconverted to overt alpha-synucleinopathy (RBD due to synucleinopathy) were enrolled, and underwent baseline presynaptic dopaminergic imaging and clinical assessment, including motor, cognitive, olfaction, and constipation evaluation. For comparison, 232 RBD non-phenoconvertor patients (67.6 ± 7.1 years, 78.4% males) and 160 controls (68.2 ± 7.2 years, 53.1% males) were enrolled. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed by machine learning to determine predictors of phenoconversion. RESULTS: Machine learning analysis showed that clinical data alone poorly predicted phenoconversion. Presynaptic dopaminergic imaging significantly improved the prediction, especially in combination with clinical data, with 77% sensitivity and 85% specificity in differentiating RBD due to synucleinopathy from non phenoconverted RBD patients, and 85% sensitivity and 86% specificity in discriminating PD-converters from DLB-converters. Quantification of presynaptic dopaminergic imaging showed that an empirical z-score cutoff of -1.0 at the most affected hemisphere putamen characterized RBD due to synucleinopathy patients, while a cutoff of -1.0 at the most affected hemisphere putamen/caudate ratio characterized PD-converters. INTERPRETATION: Clinical data alone poorly predicted phenoconversion in RBD due to synucleinopathy patients. Conversely, presynaptic dopaminergic imaging allows a good prediction of forthcoming phenoconversion diagnosis. This finding may be used in designing future disease-modifying trials. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:1178-1192.

HLA-DQB1*05 subtypes and not DRB1*10:01 mediates risk in anti-IgLON5 disease.

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare and likely underdiagnosed subtype of autoimmune encephalitis. The disease displays a heterogeneous phenotype that includes sleep, movement and bulbar-associated dysfunction. The presence of IgLON5-antibodies in CSF/serum, together with a strong association with HLA-DRB1*10:01∼DQB1*05:01, supports an autoimmune basis. In this study, a multicentric human leukocyte antigen (HLA) study of 87 anti-IgLON5 patients revealed a stronger association with HLA-DQ than HLA-DR. Specifically, we identified a predisposing rank-wise association with HLA-DQA1*01:05∼DQB1*05:01, HLA-DQA1*01:01∼DQB1*05:01 and HLA-DQA1*01:04∼DQB1*05:03 in 85% of patients. HLA sequences and binding cores for these three DQ heterodimers were similar, unlike those of linked DRB1 alleles, supporting a causal link to HLA-DQ. This association was further reflected in an increasingly later age of onset across each genotype group, with a delay of up to 11 years, while HLA-DQ-dosage dependent effects were also suggested by reduced risk in the presence of non-predisposing DQ1 alleles. The functional relevance of the observed HLA-DQ molecules was studied with competition binding assays. These proof-of-concept experiments revealed preferential binding of IgLON5 in a post-translationally modified, but not native, state to all three risk-associated HLA-DQ receptors. Further, a deamidated peptide from the Ig2-domain of IgLON5 activated T cells in two patients, compared with one control carrying HLA-DQA1*01:05∼DQB1*05:01. Taken together, these data support a HLA-DQ-mediated T-cell response to IgLON5 as a potentially key step in the initiation of autoimmunity in this disease.

New knowledge on anti-IgLON5 disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Anti-IgLON5 disease is characterized by a distinctive sleep disorder, associated with a heterogeneous spectrum of neurological symptoms. Initial autopsies showed a novel neuronal tauopathy predominantly located in the tegmentum of the brainstem. Recently, new diagnostic red flags, biomarkers predictors of response to immunotherapy, and novel insights into the autoimmune pathogenesis of the disease have been reported. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with diagnosis of neurodegenerative dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or with motor-neuron disease (MND)-like syndrome have been reported to have IgLON5 antibodies, which are the hallmark of anti-IgLON5 disease. Second, low levels of neurofilament light chain in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients at disease onset could be a predictor of immunotherapy response. Recent neuropathological studies indicate that the neuronal tau deposits occur late in the course of the disease. Moreover, IgLON5 antibodies induce cytoskeletal changes in cultured hippocampal neurons suggesting that the tauopathy could be secondary of the IgLON5 antibody effects. SUMMARY: Anti-IgLON5 disease can mimic and should be considered in atypical presentations of MND, neurodegenerative dementia and PSP. Neurofilament light chain levels seem promising biomarker for disease prognosis. Finally, the neuropathological and in vitro experimental studies strengthen the autoimmune hypothesis of the disease.

Neuropathological spectrum of anti-IgLON5 disease and stages of brainstem tau pathology: updated neuropathological research criteria of the disease-related tauopathy.

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a unique condition that bridges autoimmunity and neurodegeneration. Since its initial description 10 years ago, an increasing number of autopsies has led to the observation of a broader spectrum of neuropathologies underlying a particular constellation of clinical symptoms. In this study, we describe the neuropathological findings in 22 patients with anti-IgLON5 disease from 9 different European centers. In 15 patients (68%), we observed a hypothalamic and brainstem-predominant tauopathy of varying severity in which the original research neuropathological criteria were readily applicable. This pathology was observed in younger patients (median age at onset 61 years) with a long disease duration (median 9 years). In contrast, in 7 (32%) patients, the originally described brainstem tauopathy was nearly absent or only minimal in the form of delicate threads, despite mild-to-moderate neurodegenerative features, consistent clinical symptoms and the presence of anti-IgLON5 antibodies in CSF and serum. These patients were older at onset (median 79 years) and had shorter disease duration (median < 1 year). Overall, about one-third of the patients showed concomitant TDP-43 pathology within the regions affected by tau pathology and/or neurodegeneration. Based on these observations and in view of the spectrum of the tau burden in the core regions involved in the disease, we propose a simple staging system: stage 1 mild neurodegeneration without overt or only minimal tau pathology, stage 2 moderate neurodegeneration and mild/ moderate tauopathy and stage 3 prominent neurodegeneration and tau pathology. This staging intends to reflect a potential (age- and time-dependent) progression of tau pathology, supporting the current notion that tau accumulation is a secondary phenomenon related to the presence of anti-IgLON5 antibodies in the CNS. Finally, we adapt the original research criteria of the anti-IgLON5 disease-related tauopathy to include the spectrum of pathologies observed in this larger postmortem series.

Microglial Activation and Progression of Nigrostriatal Dysfunction in Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Using 11C-(R)-PK11195-PET, we found increased microglia activation in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients. Their role remains to be clarified. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to assess relationships between activated microglia and progression of nigrostriatal dysfunction in iRBD. METHODS: Fifteen iRBD patients previously scanned with 11C-(R)-PK11195 and 18F-DOPA-PET underwent repeat 18F-DOPA-PET after 3 years. 18F-DOPA Ki changes from baseline were evaluated with volumes-of-interest and voxel-based analyses. RESULTS: Significant 18F-DOPA Ki reductions were found in putamen and caudate. Reductions were larger and more widespread in patients with increased nigral microglia activation at baseline. Left nigral 11C-(R)-PK11195 binding at baseline was a predictor of 18F-DOPA Ki reduction in left caudate (coef = -0.0426, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with increased baseline 11C-(R)-PK11195 binding have greater changes in nigrostriatal function, suggesting a detrimental rather than protective effect of microglial activation. Alternatively, both phenomena occur in patients with prominent nigrostriatal dysfunction without a causative link. The clinical and therapeutic implications of these findings need further elucidation. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Progression of brain cholinergic dysfunction in patients with isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

BACKGROUND: Reduced cortical acetylcholinesterase activity, as measured by 11 C-donepezil positron emission tomography (PET), has been reported in patients with isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). However, its progression and clinical implications have not been fully investigated. Here, we explored the relationship between longitudinal changes in brain acetylcholinesterase activity and cognitive function in iRBD. METHODS: Twelve iRBD patients underwent 11 C-donepezil PET at baseline and after 3 years. PET images were interrogated with statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and a regions of interest (ROI) approach. Clinical progression was assessed with the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Part III (MDS-UPDRS-III). Cognitive function was rated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS: From baseline to follow-up, the mean 11 C-donepezil distribution volume ratio (DVR) decreased in the cortex (p = 0.006), thalamus (p = 0.013), and caudate (p = 0.013) ROI. Despite no significant changes in the group mean MMSE or MoCA scores being observed, individually, seven patients showed a decline in their scores on these cognitive tests. Subgroup analysis showed that only the subgroup of patients with a decline in cognitive scores had a significant reduction in mean cortical 11 C-donepezil DVR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that severity of brain cholinergic dysfunction in iRBD patients increases significantly over 3 years, and those changes are more severe in those with a decline in cognitive test scores.

Cholinergic dysfunction in isolated rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder links to impending phenoconversion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Most patients with isolated rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) progress to a parkinsonian alpha-synucleinopathy. However, time to phenoconversion shows great variation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cholinergic and dopaminergic dysfunction in iRBD patients was associated with impending phenoconversion. METHODS: Twenty-one polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients underwent baseline 11C-donepezil and 6-Fluoro-(18F)-l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET). Potential phenoconversion was monitored for up to 8 years. PET images were analysed according to patients' diagnoses after 3 and 8 years using linear regression. Time-to-event analysis was made with Cox regression, dividing patients into low and high tracer uptake groups. RESULTS: Follow-up was accomplished in 17 patients. Eight patients progressed to either Parkinson's disease (n = 4) or dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 4), while nine remained non-phenoconverters. Compared with non-phenoconverters, 8-year phenoconverters had lower mean 11C-donepezil uptake in the parietal (p = 0.032) and frontal cortex (p = 0.042), whereas mean 11C-donepezil uptake in 3-year phenoconverters was lower in the parietal cortex (p = 0.005), frontal cortex (p = 0.025), thalamus (p = 0.043) and putamen (p = 0.049). Phenoconverters within 3 years and 8 years had lower 18F-DOPA uptake in the putamen (p < 0.001). iRBD patients with low parietal 11C-donepezil uptake had a 13.46 (95% confidence interval 1.42;127.21) times higher rate of phenoconversion compared with those with higher uptake (p = 0.023). iRBD patients with low 18F-DOPA uptake in the most affected putamen were all phenoconverters with higher rate of phenoconversion (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that cortical cholinergic dysfunction, particularly within the parietal cortex, could be a biomarker candidate for predicting short-term phenoconversion in iRBD patients. This study aligns with previous reports suggesting dopaminergic dysfunction is associated with forthcoming phenoconversion.

Monocyte markers correlate with immune and neuronal brain changes in REM sleep behavior disorder.

Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases with both central and peripheral immune responses. However, whether the peripheral immune changes occur early in disease and their relation to brain events is yet unclear. Isolated rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) can precede synucleinopathy-related parkinsonism and provides a prodromal phenotype to study early Parkinson's disease events. In this prospective case-control study, we describe monocytic markers in a cohort of iRBD patients that were associated with the brain-imaging markers of inflammation and neuronal dysfunction. Using 11C-PK11195 positron emission tomography (PET), we previously showed increased immune activation in the substantia nigra of iRBD patients, while 18F-DOPA PET detected reduced putaminal dopaminergic function. Here we describe that patients' blood monocytic cells showed increased expression of CD11b, while HLA-DR expression was decreased compared to healthy controls. The iRBD patients had increased classical monocytes and mature natural killer cells. Remarkably, the levels of expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on blood monocytes in iRBD patients were positively correlated with nigral immune activation measured by 11C-PK11195 PET and negatively correlated with putaminal 18F-DOPA uptake; the opposite was seen for the percentage of CD163+ myeloid cells. This suggesting a deleterious role for TLR4 and, conversely, a protective one for the CD163 expression. We show an association between peripheral blood monocytes and brain immune and dopaminergic changes in a synucleinopathy-related disorder, thus suggesting a cross-talk among periphery and brain during the disease.

Analysis of inflammatory markers and tau deposits in an autopsy series of nine patients with anti-IgLON5 disease.

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare neurological, probably autoimmune, disorder associated in many cases with a specific tauopathy. Only a few post-mortem neuropathological studies have been reported so far. Little is known about the pathogenic mechanisms that result in neurodegeneration. We investigated the neuropathology of anti-IgLON5 disease and characterized cellular and humoral inflammation. We included nine cases (six of them previously published). Median age of patients was 71 years (53-82 years), the median disease duration was 6 years (0.5-13 years), and the female to male ratio was 5:4. Six cases with a median disease duration of 9 years presented a prominent tauopathy. Five of them had a classical anti-IgLON5-related brainstem tauopathy and another presented a prominent neuronal and glial 4-repeat tauopathy, consistent with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Three cases with short disease duration (median 1.25 years) only showed a primary age-related neurofibrillary pathology. Inflammatory infiltrates of T and B cells were mild to moderate and did not significantly differ between anti-IgLON5 disease cases with or without tauopathy. In contrast, we found an extensive neuropil deposition of IgG4 in the tegmentum of the brainstem, olivary nucleus, and cerebellar cortex that was most prominent in two patients with short disease duration without the typical IgLON5-related tauopathy. The IgG4 deposits were particularly prominent in the cerebellar cortex and in these regions accompanied by mild IgG1 deposits. Activated complement deposition (C9neo) was absent. Our study indicates that IgLON5-related tau pathology occurs in later disease stages and may also present a PSP-phenotype with exclusively 4-repeat neuronal and glial tau pathology. The prominent deposition of anti-IgLON5 IgG4 at predilection sites for tau pathology suggests that anti-IgLON5 antibodies precede the tau pathology. Early start of immunotherapy might prevent irreversible neuronal damage and progression of the disease, at least in a subgroup of patients.

Low Specificity of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaires: Need for Better Screening Methods.

BACKGROUND: Correct diagnosis of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is critical due to its link to α-synucleinopathies and risk of injuries and requires video-polysomnography (V-PSG). Usefulness of screening questionnaires outside the context of validation studies is limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the performance of three validated RBD screening questionnaires compared with gold-standard V-PSG. METHODS: In this bicentric prospective study, 400 consecutive subjects referred to a sleep center for the first time filled three RBD questionnaires (RBD Screening Questionnaire, RBD Single Question, and Innsbruck RBD Inventory) in random order before sleep experts' interview. Subjects positive for at least one questionnaire were invited to undergo V-PSG. Data from patients negative for all questionnaires undergoing V-PSG for other reasons were also evaluated. Questionnaire performances were compared to gold-standard V-PSG RBD diagnosis. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-nine patients (median age: 51 [interquartile range: 37-64] years, 54.9% men) participated. Two hundred thirty-eight (59.6%) were positive for at least one questionnaire, and RBD was diagnosed using V-PSG in 30 patients (7.5%). Questionnaire specificity was 48.1% to 67.4%, sensitivity 80% to 92%, accuracy 51% to 68.3%, negative predictive value 94.2% to 98%, and positive predictive value 14.1% to 20.7%, with no relevant differences in performances among the evaluated questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: RBD questionnaires have low specificity and low positive predictive value and should not be used as a standalone tool for the diagnosis of RBD. Further development of RBD screening methods is needed, particularly for upcoming neuroprotective trials. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Serum MicroRNAs Predict Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder and Lewy Body Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) is a well-established clinical risk factor for Lewy body diseases (LBDs), such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether serum microRNA (miRNA) deregulation in IRBD can antedate the diagnosis of LBD by performing a longitudinal study in different progression stages of IRBD before and after LBD diagnosis and assessing the predictive performance of differentially expressed miRNAs by machine learning-based modeling. METHODS: Using genome-wide miRNA analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation, we assessed serum miRNA profiles from patients with IRBD stratified by dopamine transporter (DaT) single-photon emission computed tomography into DaT-negative IRBD (n = 17) and DaT-positive IRBD (n = 21), IRBD phenoconverted into LBD (n = 13), and controls (n = 20). Longitudinally, we followed up the IRBD cohort by studying three time point serum samples over 26 months. RESULTS: We found sustained cross-sectional and longitudinal deregulation of 12 miRNAs across the RBD continuum, including DaT-negative IRBD, DaT-positive IRBD, and LBD phenoconverted IRBD (let-7c-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-140, miR-22-3p, miR-221-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-25-3p, miR-29c-3p, miR-361-5p, miR-425-5p, miR-4505, and miR-451a) (false discovery rate P < 0.05). Age- and sex-adjusted predictive modeling based on the 12 differentially expressed miRNA biosignatures discriminated IRBD and PD or DLB from controls with an area under the curve of 98% (95% confidence interval: 89-99%). CONCLUSIONS: Besides clinical diagnosis of IRBD or imaging markers such as DaT single-photon emission computed tomography, specific miRNA biosignatures alone hold promise as progression biomarkers for patients with IRBD for predicting PD and DLB clinical outcomes. Further miRNA studies in other PD at-risk populations, such as LRRK2 mutation asymptomatic carriers or hyposmic subjects, are warranted. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Impaired cerebral microcirculation in isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder.

During the prodromal period of Parkinson's disease and other α-synucleinopathy-related parkinsonisms, neurodegeneration is thought to progressively affect deep brain nuclei, such as the locus coeruleus, caudal raphe nucleus, substantia nigra, and the forebrain nucleus basalis of Meynert. Besides their involvement in the regulation of mood, sleep, behaviour, and memory functions, these nuclei also innervate parenchymal arterioles and capillaries throughout the cortex, possibly to ensure that oxygen supplies are adjusted according to the needs of neural activity. The aim of this study was to examine whether patients with isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder, a parasomnia considered to be a prodromal phenotype of α-synucleinopathies, reveal microvascular flow disturbances consistent with disrupted central blood flow control. We applied dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI to characterize the microscopic distribution of cerebral blood flow in the cortex of 20 polysomnographic-confirmed patients with isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (17 males, age range: 54-77 years) and 25 healthy matched controls (25 males, age range: 58-76 years). Patients and controls were cognitively tested by Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini Mental State Examination. Results revealed profound hypoperfusion and microvascular flow disturbances throughout the cortex in patients compared to controls. In patients, the microvascular flow disturbances were seen in cortical areas associated with language comprehension, visual processing and recognition and were associated with impaired cognitive performance. We conclude that cortical blood flow abnormalities, possibly related to impaired neurogenic control, are present in patients with isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder and associated with cognitive dysfunction. We hypothesize that pharmacological restoration of perivascular neurotransmitter levels could help maintain cognitive function in patients with this prodromal phenotype of parkinsonism.

Alpha-synuclein seeds in olfactory mucosa of patients with isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is an early-stage α-synucleinopathy in most, if not all, affected subjects. Detection of pathological α-synuclein in peripheral tissues of patients with isolated RBD may identify those progressing to Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies or multiple system atrophy, with the ultimate goal of testing preventive therapies. Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) provided evidence of α-synuclein seeding activity in CSF and olfactory mucosa of patients with α-synucleinopathies. The aim of this study was to explore RT-QuIC detection of α-synuclein aggregates in olfactory mucosa of a large cohort of subjects with isolated RBD compared to patients with Parkinson's disease and control subjects. This cross-sectional case-control study was performed at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Spain, and the University of Verona, Italy. Olfactory mucosa samples obtained by nasal swab in 63 patients with isolated RBD, 41 matched Parkinson's disease patients and 59 matched control subjects were analysed by α-synuclein RT-QuIC in a blinded fashion at the University of Verona, Italy. Median age of patients with isolated RBD was 70 years, 85.7% were male. All participants were tested for smell, autonomic, cognitive and motor functions. Olfactory mucosa was α-synuclein RT-QuIC positive in 44.4% isolated RBD patients, 46.3% Parkinson's disease patients and 10.2% control subjects. While the sensitivity for isolated RBD plus Parkinson's disease versus controls was 45.2%, specificity was high (89.8%). Among isolated RBD patients with positive α-synuclein RT-QuIC, 78.6% had olfactory dysfunction compared to 21.4% with negative α-synuclein RT-QuIC (P < 0.001). The extent of olfactory dysfunction was more severe in isolated RBD patients positive than negative for olfactory mucosa a-synuclein RT-QuIC (P < 0.001). We provide evidence that the α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay enables the molecular detection of neuronal α-synuclein aggregates in olfactory mucosa of patients with isolated RBD and Parkinson's disease. Although the overall sensitivity was moderate in this study, nasal swabbing is attractive as a simple, non-invasive test and might be useful as part of a screening battery to identify subjects in the prodromal stages of α-synucleinopathies. Further studies are needed to enhance sensitivity, and better understand the temporal dynamics of α-synuclein seeding in the olfactory mucosa and spreading to other brain areas during the progression from isolated RBD to overt α-synucleinopathy, as well the impact of timing, disease subgroups and sampling technique on the overall sensitivity.

Effects of IgLON5 Antibodies on Neuronal Cytoskeleton: A Link between Autoimmunity and Neurodegeneration.

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a neurological disorder characterized by autoantibodies against IgLON5 and pathological evidence of neuronal-specific tau accumulation. Here, we report that patients' IgLON5 IgG, but not other cell-surface antibodies, disrupt the cytoskeletal organization in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, resulting in dystrophic neurites and axonal swelling. Adsorption of IgLON5 IgG with HEK293 cells expressing IgLON5 abrogated the indicated cytoskeletal changes. These findings, along with an increase of levels of neurofilaments in patients' cerebrospinal fluid, suggest that IgLON5 IgG, unlike other cell-surface antibodies, disrupts neuronal cytoskeleton maintenance, providing a link between autoimmunity and neurodegeneration. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:1023-1027.

Lack of Asymmetry of Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Function in Healthy Subjects.

OBJECTIVE: In right-handed patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) or isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, dopamine transporter (DAT) [(123)I]ß-carboxymethyoxy-3-ß-(4-iodophenyl) tropane single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) shows predominant nigrostriatal deficit in the left striatum. This suggests that in PD patients, the nigrostriatal system of the dominant hemisphere is more susceptible to disease-related dysfunction. To confirm this hypothesis, we investigated whether the nigrostriatal function is symmetric in healthy controls and in patients with PD. METHODS: In 113 right-handed healthy controls and 279 right-handed early-PD patients, we examined the striatal dopaminergic terminals function in each hemisphere using DAT-SPECT. RESULTS: In the controls, DAT-SPECT showed symmetric specific binding ratios in the putamen and caudate nucleus of each hemisphere. In patients with PD, the specific binding ratio was lower in the left than in the right putamen. CONCLUSIONS: Right-handed healthy controls have symmetric nigrostriatal dopaminergic function. The left hemispheric predominance of nigrostriatal deficit seen in right-handed premotor and manifest PD represents an early pathological feature of the disease. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Risk and predictors of dementia and parkinsonism in idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder: a multicentre study.

Idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) is a powerful early sign of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to directly observe prodromal neurodegenerative states, and potentially intervene with neuroprotective therapy. For future neuroprotective trials, it is essential to accurately estimate phenoconversion rate and identify potential predictors of phenoconversion. This study assessed the neurodegenerative disease risk and predictors of neurodegeneration in a large multicentre cohort of iRBD. We combined prospective follow-up data from 24 centres of the International RBD Study Group. At baseline, patients with polysomnographically-confirmed iRBD without parkinsonism or dementia underwent sleep, motor, cognitive, autonomic and special sensory testing. Patients were then prospectively followed, during which risk of dementia and parkinsonsim were assessed. The risk of dementia and parkinsonism was estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Predictors of phenoconversion were assessed with Cox proportional hazards analysis, adjusting for age, sex, and centre. Sample size estimates for disease-modifying trials were calculated using a time-to-event analysis. Overall, 1280 patients were recruited. The average age was 66.3 ± 8.4 and 82.5% were male. Average follow-up was 4.6 years (range = 1-19 years). The overall conversion rate from iRBD to an overt neurodegenerative syndrome was 6.3% per year, with 73.5% converting after 12-year follow-up. The rate of phenoconversion was significantly increased with abnormal quantitative motor testing [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.16], objective motor examination (HR = 3.03), olfactory deficit (HR = 2.62), mild cognitive impairment (HR = 1.91-2.37), erectile dysfunction (HR = 2.13), motor symptoms (HR = 2.11), an abnormal DAT scan (HR = 1.98), colour vision abnormalities (HR = 1.69), constipation (HR = 1.67), REM atonia loss (HR = 1.54), and age (HR = 1.54). There was no significant predictive value of sex, daytime somnolence, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnoea, urinary dysfunction, orthostatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, or hyperechogenicity on substantia nigra ultrasound. Among predictive markers, only cognitive variables were different at baseline between those converting to primary dementia versus parkinsonism. Sample size estimates for definitive neuroprotective trials ranged from 142 to 366 patients per arm. This large multicentre study documents the high phenoconversion rate from iRBD to an overt neurodegenerative syndrome. Our findings provide estimates of the relative predictive value of prodromal markers, which can be used to stratify patients for neuroprotective trials.

Neurological profiles beyond the sleep disorder in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Anti-IgLON5 disease is a novel entity characterized by a distinctive sleep disorder associated with a variety of neurological symptoms, antibodies against IgLON5, and pathological findings of neuronal tauopathy. The characteristic sleep disorder occurs in most patients, but other neurological symptoms are also important because they can be the presenting and most disabling problem and mimic other conditions. This review focuses on nonsleep neurological symptoms and presentations of anti-IgLON5 disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Apart from sleep problems, the most frequent neurological symptoms in anti-IgLON5 disease are bulbar dysfunction and gait abnormalities. Other symptoms include movement disorders like chorea or abnormal orofacial movements, oculomotor abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and symptoms of nervous system hyperexcitability. All these symptoms can present in different combinations and severity leading to distinct clinical phenotypes beyond the sleep disorder: bulbar syndrome; syndrome resembling progressive supranuclear palsy; cognitive impairment, sometimes with chorea, mimicking Huntington disease; gait ataxia; and stiff-person-like syndrome. SUMMARY: These clinical presentations may suggest degenerative or other neurological disorders, but anti-IgLON5 disease has to be considered, and confirmed by the detection of IgLON5 antibodies, when the criteria for the diagnosis of the initially suspected disorders are not fulfilled, confirmatory laboratory tests are negative, and significant sleep problems are present.

C9orf72 intermediate repeats are associated with corticobasal degeneration, increased C9orf72 expression and disruption of autophagy.

Microsatellite repeat expansion disease loci can exhibit pleiotropic clinical and biological effects depending on repeat length. Large expansions in C9orf72 (100s-1000s of units) are the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). However, whether intermediate expansions also contribute to neurodegenerative disease is not well understood. Several studies have identified intermediate repeats in Parkinson's disease patients, but the association was not found in autopsy-confirmed cases. We hypothesized that intermediate C9orf72 repeats are a genetic risk factor for corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a neurodegenerative disease that can be clinically similar to Parkinson's but has distinct tau protein pathology. Indeed, intermediate C9orf72 repeats were significantly enriched in autopsy-proven CBD (n = 354 cases, odds ratio = 3.59, p = 0.00024). While large C9orf72 repeat expansions are known to decrease C9orf72 expression, intermediate C9orf72 repeats result in increased C9orf72 expression in human brain tissue and CRISPR/cas9 knockin iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. In contrast to cases of FTD/ALS with large C9orf72 expansions, CBD with intermediate C9orf72 repeats was not associated with pathologic RNA foci or dipeptide repeat protein aggregates. Knock-in cells with intermediate repeats exhibit numerous changes in gene expression pathways relating to vesicle trafficking and autophagy. Additionally, overexpression of C9orf72 without the repeat expansion leads to defects in autophagy under nutrient starvation conditions. These results raise the possibility that therapeutic strategies to reduce C9orf72 expression may be beneficial for the treatment of CBD.

Extrastriatal monoaminergic dysfunction and enhanced microglial activation in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder.

BACKGROUND: The majority of patients diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) progress over time to a Lewy-type α-synucleinopathy such as Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies. This in vivo molecular imaging study aimed to investigate if extrastriatal monoaminergic systems are affected in iRBD patients and if this coincides with neuroinflammation. METHODS: We studied twenty-one polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients with 18F-DOPA and 11C-PK11195 positron emission tomography (PET) to investigate extrastriatal monoaminergic function and microglial activation. Twenty-nine healthy controls (n = 9 18F-DOPA and n = 20 11C-PK11195) were also investigated. Analyses were performed within predefined regions of interest and at voxel-level with Statistical Parametric Mapping. RESULTS: Regions of interest analysis detected monoaminergic dysfunction in iRBD thalamus with a 15% mean reduction of 18F-DOPA Ki values compared to controls (mean difference = -0.00026, 95% confidence interval [-0.00050 to -0.00002], p-value = 0.03). No associated thalamic changes in 11C-PK11195 binding were observed. Other regions sampled showed no 18F-DOPA or 11C-PK11195 PET differences between groups. Voxel-level interrogation of 11C-PK11195 binding identified areas with significantly increased binding within the occipital lobe of iRBD patients. CONCLUSION: Thalamic monoaminergic dysfunction in iRBD patients may reflect terminal dysfunction of projecting neurons from the locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus, two structures that regulate REM sleep and are known to be involved in the early phase of PD. The observation of significantly raised microglial activation in the occipital lobe of these patients might suggest early local Lewy-type α-synuclein pathology and possibly an increased risk for later cognitive dysfunction.

Dopamine transporter imaging deficit predicts early transition to synucleinopathy in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging to identify idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) patients at risk for short-term development of clinically defined synucleinopathy. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients with polysomnography-confirmed IRBD underwent 123 I-FP-CIT DAT-SPECT. Results were compared to 20 matched controls without RBD who underwent DAT-SPECT. In patients, FP-CIT uptake was considered abnormal when values were two standard deviations below controls' mean uptake. After DAT-SPECT, patients were followed up during 5.7 ± 2.2 (range, 2.6-9.9) years. RESULTS: Baseline DAT deficit was found in 51 (58.6%) patients. During follow-up, 25 (28.7%) subjects developed clinically defined synucleinopathy (Parkinson's disease in 11, dementia with Lewy bodies in 13, and multiple system atrophy in 1) with mean latency of 3.2 ± 1.9 years from imaging. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed increased risk of incident synucleinopathy in patients with abnormal DAT-SPECT than with normal DAT-SPECT (20% vs 6% at 3 years, 33% vs 18% at 5 years; log rank test, p = 0.006). Receiver operating characteristics curve revealed that reduction of FP-CIT uptake in putamen greater than 25% discriminated patients with DAT deficit who developed synucleinopathy from patients with DAT deficit that remained disease free after 3 years of follow-up. At 5-year follow-up, DAT-SPECT had 75% sensitivity, 51% specificity, 44% positive predictive value, 80% negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio 1.54 to predict synucleinopathy. INTERPRETATION: DAT-SPECT identifies IRBD patients at short-term risk for synucleinopathy. Decreased FP-CIT putamen uptake greater than 25% predicts synucleinopathy after 3 years' follow-up. These observations may be useful to select candidates for disease modification trials in IRBD. Ann Neurol 2017;82:419-428.