Journal Article

FZJ-2026-03258

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The functional brain connectome in isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and Parkinson’s disease

Holtbernd, F. ; Hohenfeld, C. ; Oertel, W. H. ; Knake, S. ; Sittig, E. ; Romanzetti, S.FZJ* ; Heidbreder, A. ; Michels, J. ; Dogan, I. ; Schulz, J. B. ; Schiefer, J. ; Janzen, A. ; Reetz, K. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2024
Elsevier Amsterdam [u.a.]

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2024.03.012  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-03258

Abstract: BackgroundIsolated rapid-eye-movement behavior disorder (iRBD) often precedes the development of alpha-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have revealed structural brain alterations in iRBD partially resembling those observed in PD. However, relatively little is known about whole-brain functional brain alterations in iRBD. Here, we characterize the functional brain connectome of iRBD compared with PD patients and healthy controls (HC) using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI).MethodsEighteen iRBD subjects (67.3 ± 6.6 years), 18 subjects with PD (65.4 ± 5.8 years), and 39 age- and sex-matched HC (64.4 ± 9.2 years) underwent rs-fMRI at 3 T. We applied a graph theoretical approach to analyze the brain functional connectome at the global and regional levels. Data were analyzed using both frequentist and Bayesian statistics.ResultsGlobal connectivity was largely preserved in iRBD and PD individuals. In contrast, both disease groups displayed altered local connectivity mainly in the motor network, temporal cortical regions including the limbic system, and the visual system. There were some group specific alterations, and connectivity changes were pronounced in PD individuals. Overall, however, there was a good agreement of the connectome changes observed in both disease groups.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence for widespread functional brain connectivity alterations in iRBD, including motor circuitry, despite normal motor function. Connectome alterations showed substantial resemblance with those observed in PD, underlining a close pathophysiological relationship of iRBD and PD.

Note: KR and parts of this project were funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF 01GQ1402). This work was further supported by a Research Grant from the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University (IZKF, 124/16), the International Research Training Group (IRTG 2150) of the German Research Foundation (DFG), and ParkinsonFonds Deutschland, Berlin, Germany.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Physik der Medizinischen Bildgebung (INM-4)
2. Jara-Institut Quantum Information (INM-11)

Research Program(s):

1. 5253 - Neuroimaging (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
2. BMBF 01GQ1402 - Metabolische Bildgebung bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen (01GQ1402) (01GQ1402)

---

Database coverage:
; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---