GABAergic Imbalance in REM sleep behavior disorder in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Motivation: There is a bidirectional relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD) and Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), however, the underlying mechanisms behind this relationship require further elucidation. Goal(s): Try to achieve the stratification of PD patients with and without RBD. Approach: Taking advantage of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) with MEscher-Garwood Point RESolved Spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) to detect GABA+ levels in the left striatum. Results: An intriguing phenomenon was found that GABA+ level increased in the left striatum in PD patients without RBD, but decreased in PD patients with RBD. Impact: GABA+ level imbalance in PD patients with and without RBD might bring forward new layered diagnoses or therapeutic options.