Objective: This study evaluated two-year outcomes of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in a cohort of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) at globus pallidus interna (GPi).
Background: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, including sleep disorders. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia involving dream enactment and loss of atonia during REM. Over 50% of patients with PD suffer from RBD. DBS is used to treat motor fluctuations associated with PD, however, little is known about the effect of DBS on nonmotor symptoms such as RBD.
Method: Patients with PD who underwent GPi DBS were administered the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ) to determine the presence and severity of RBD at baseline and 12 months (RBDSQ ≥ 5). The overall change of levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) was also assessed. All results were analyzed with a paired t-test.
Results: Thirteen patients completed surveys at the two-year mark. Eleven had RBD at baseline. There was no significant change in RBDSQ scores for the entire cohort (p=0.23) or for those with RBD at baseline (p=0.31) two years after DBS. LEDD was not significantly different from baseline to two years (p=0.99). Six of seven patients on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors at baseline remained on them two years post-DBS.
Conclusion: This study suggests that GPi DBS may not have an impact on RBD in patients with PD, despite pre-clinical studies suggesting that GPi is likely connected to circuitry that regulates REM sleep. Changes in medications that impact RBD also did not appear to influence these results. Future studies with a larger cohort are needed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of GPi DBS as stimulation is optimized.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J. Zuzuarregui, A. Wiltshire, A. Mahes, S. Wang, M. San Luciano. Two-year Outcomes of Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder Following Globus Pallidus Interna Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/two-year-outcomes-of-rapid-eye-movement-behavior-disorder-following-globus-pallidus-interna-deep-brain-stimulation-for-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/two-year-outcomes-of-rapid-eye-movement-behavior-disorder-following-globus-pallidus-interna-deep-brain-stimulation-for-parkinsons-disease/