Actively Recruiting
Neuroplasticity in RBD
Led by University of Minnesota · Updated on 2026-05-04
86
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
417 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
REM sleep behavior disorder is a parasomnia that reflects the presence of alpha-synucleinopathy in the brain and is highly predictive of eventual phenoconversion to Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy over the course of years to decades. Neuroplastic adaptations in the brain during the prodromal stage of disease are thought to mask the expression of motor and non-motor signs and may substantially delay diagnosis during a potentially critical time window. This study will examine the state and progression (over 30 to 36 months) of neuroplastic changes in the excitability of the motor and prefrontal cortex (using transcranial magnetic stimulation), the structural and functional connectivity of the brain (using highfield, 7T, magnetic resonance imaging), and the relationship of these changes to the expression of motor and neuropsychological signs, in a cohort of individuals with REM sleep behavior disorder and matched controls.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Neuroplasticity in RBD
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of polysomnogram-confirmed isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD) for the iRBD group
- Age between 21 and 75 years
- Able to walk independently without an assistive device (e.g., cane or walker) for 50 meters
- For control group: Age between 21 and 75 years
- For control group: Able to walk independently without an assistive device for 50 meters
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of dementia or impaired capacity to consent as measured by UBACC and MacCAT-CR
- History of musculoskeletal disorders significantly affecting limb movement
- Other significant neurological disorders affecting participation or performance
- Antidepressant-associated RBD or worsening dream enactment after starting antidepressants
- Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, or other neurodegenerative disorders or known causes of RBD such as narcolepsy or drug-induced RBD
- Untreated sleep-disordered breathing
- Pregnant women
- History of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- Recent frequent fainting episodes triggered by blood, emotional stress, or sensory inputs (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- Presence of intracranial metallic or magnetic devices, pacemakers, or implanted devices (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- History of surgery on blood vessels, brain, or heart (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- Unexplained recurring headaches or concussion within six months (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- Severe hearing impairment (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- Use of medications affecting neuroplasticity testing such as haloperidol, prazosin, biperiden, dopamine modulators, NMDA receptor and calcium channel modulators, GABAergic drugs, lithium, lovastatin, and cannabis (exclusion from TMS experiments)
- For control group: History of dream enactment or suspected iRBD
- For control group: Untreated sleep-disordered breathing
- For control group: Presence of parkinsonism, cognitive impairment, dementia, or mild cognitive impairment
- For control group: Active central nervous system, systemic, psychiatric conditions or use of psychoactive medication affecting cognition, neuropsychiatric, motor, or autonomic function
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Madison Wylie, MS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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