Assessing the role of nocturnal core body temperature dysregulation as a biomarker of neurodegeneration

Arabella K. Raupach, Kaylena A. Ehgoetz Martens, Negar Memarian, George Zhong, Elie Matar, Glenda M. Halliday, Ronald Grunstein, Simon J. G. Lewis*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The vast majority of patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder will develop a neurodegenerative α-synuclein-related condition, such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia with Lewy bodies. The pathology underlying dream enactment overlaps anatomically with the brainstem regions that regulate circadian core body temperature. Previously, nocturnal core body temperature regulation has been shown to be impaired in Parkinson’s disease. However, no study to date has investigated nocturnal core body temperature changes in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, which may prove to be an early objective biomarker for α-synucleinopathies. Ten healthy controls, 15 patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, 31 patients with Parkinson’s disease and six patients with dementia with Lewy bodies underwent clinical assessment and nocturnal polysomnography with core body temperature monitoring. A validated cosinor method was utilised for core body temperature analysis. No differences in mesor, nadir or time of nadir were observed between groups. However, when compared with healthy controls, the amplitude of the nocturnal core body temperature (mesor minus nadir) was significantly reduced in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, Parkinson’s disease with concurrent rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder and dementia with Lewy bodies (p < 0.001, p = 0.043 and p = 0.017, respectively). Importantly, this relationship was not seen in those patients with Parkinson’s disease without rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between amplitude of the core body temperature and self-reported rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder symptoms. Changes in thermoregulatory circadian rhythm may be specifically associated with the pathology underlying rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder rather than simply that of α-synucleinopathy. These findings implicate thermoregulatory dysfunction as a potential early biomarker for development of rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder-associated neurodegeneration, and suggest that subpopulations with differing pathological underpinnings might exist in Parkinson’s disease.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12939
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Sleep Research
Volume29
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

A corrigendum exists for this article. The original has been updated. The correction can be found at doi: 10.1111/jsr.13360

Keywords

  • circadian
  • core body temperature
  • dementia with Lewy bodies
  • idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • prodromal
  • synucleinopathy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessing the role of nocturnal core body temperature dysregulation as a biomarker of neurodegeneration'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this