Publication date: Jul 07, 2023

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. BDNF enhances the survival of dopaminergic neurons and improves dopaminergic neurotransmission and motor performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the association between BDNF levels and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in PD patients has received limited attention. We employed the Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaire-Hong Kong version (RBDQ-HK) and the Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ) for RBD diagnosis. Patients were categorized into three groups: healthy controls (n=53), PD patients without RBD (PD-nRBD; n=56), and PD patients with RBD (PD-RBD; n=45). Serum BDNF concentrations, demographic information, medical history, and motor/non-motor manifestations were compared between the three groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with PD and RBD. P-trend analysis was used to assess the relationship between BDNF levels and the risk of PD and RBD onset. Interaction effects were analyzed between BDNF, patients’ age, and gender on the risk of RBD onset in PD paitents. Our findings indicate that serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in PD patients compared to healthy controls (p

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