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Neuroplasticity in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Study

This study is looking at how the brain changes over time in people with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD is a sleep condition that often leads to other brain diseases like Parkinson's. Researchers want to understand how the brain adapts to these changes, which might delay diagnosis. You would participate in eight testing sessions over 30 to 36 months. These sessions include MRI scans, brain stimulation tests (TMS), motor and memory assessments, and overnight sleep studies. The study aims to see how brain changes, depression scores, and memory scores progress over this time. It's open to people aged 21 to 75 who can walk independently, with or without RBD.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 86 participants, including those with confirmed isolated RBD and a control group.
What's involved
You would attend eight testing sessions over 30 to 36 months, including MRI scans, TMS tests, motor and neuropsychological assessments, and overnight sleep studies (polysomnography).
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 30 to 36 months to track changes in MRI, depression scores, and memory scores.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05471960

Neuroplasticity in RBD

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 21–75Observational
University of Minnesota
~86 participants
Updated 2026-08-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Natural progression over time

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
MRI Progression over 30 to 36 months
Measured over 30 to 36 months from baseline
+15 more outcomes measured

Conditions

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Explore related trials

REM sleep behavior disorder

NCT05471960

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesotastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Colum MacKinnon, Ph.D · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Minnesota

Who to contact

Madison Wylie, MS
[email protected]
612-505-8325
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Diagnosis of polysomnogram-confirmed isolated iRBD.
Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (e.g., cane) for 50 meters.
Age: 21-75 years.
Age: 21-75 years.
Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (e.g., cane or walker for 50 meters.

Exclusion

Dementia diagnosis and/or a University of California Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC) score and MacCAT-CR score indicating impaired capacity to consent.
History of musculoskeletal disorders that significant affect movement of lower or upper limbs as determined at the time of enrollment.
Other significant neurological disorders that may affect participation or performance in the study.
Anti-depressant associated RBD. Individuals will be excluded if their dream enactment emerged or clearly worsened after initiating an antidepressant medication.
Meet criteria for overt Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Multiple Systems Atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, or other neurodegenerative disorder, or other known cause of RBD (e.g., narcolepsy and drug induced RBD).
Untreated sleep-disordered breathing
History of musculoskeletal disorders that significantly affect movement of lower or upper limbs as determined at the time of enrollment.
Pregnant women
History of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury
Recent history of frequent syncope (fainting) episodes in response to blood, emotional stress, or sensory triggers.
Intracranial metallic or magnetic devices (e.g. cochlear implant, deep brain stimulator)
Pacemaker or any implanted device
History of surgery on blood vessels, brain, or heart
Unexplained, recurring headaches or concussion within the last six months
Severe hearing impairment
If participant is taking one of the following medications that affects neuroplasticity testing, they will be excluded from the TMS experiment: haloperidol (dopamine antagonist), prazosin (norepinephrine antagonist), biperiden (acetylcholine antagonist), dopamine modulators, NMDA receptor and calcium channel modulators, GABAergic drugs (benzodiazepines), lithium, lovastatin, and cannabis.
History of dream enactment from either patient report or from a bed partner witness that may suggest iRBD.
History of untreated sleep-disordered breathing.
Presence of parkinsonism or cognitive impairment (including dementia or mild cognitive impairment).
Active central nervous system, systemic, psychiatric conditions or use of psychoactive medication that would adversely affect cognitive, neuropsychiatric, motor, or autonomic functioning

What this trial measures

  • MRI Progression over 30 to 36 months30 to 36 months from baseline

    Yes/No whether a change was observed from baseline

  • Change in Beck Depression Inventory score30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means more impairment

  • Change in Mattis Dementia Rating Scale30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Rey Complex Figure30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in WAIS-IV Matrix Reasoning30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Stroop Color30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Stroop Word30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Stroop Color Word30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means more impairment for subsections "# persev errors" and FMS; less impairment for subsections "# categories" and conceptualization

  • Change in D-KEFS30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in BVMT-R30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in HVLT30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in WMS-3 Spatial Span30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Boston Naming Test30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means less impairment

  • Change in Trail Making Test A30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means more impairment

  • Change in Trail Making Test B30 to 36 months from baseline

    Higher score means more impairment