Altered resting state networks associated with REM sleep behavioral disorder in Parkinson’s disease

Resting-state functional MRI has played a fundamental role in the study of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). In this work, we investigated changes in functional connectivity within and between resting-state networks and their relationship to global fluctuations in 13 PD with RBD, 28 PD without RBD, 6 RBD without PD, and 20 healthy controls. Based on an in-house reliable data selection strategy, unique effects on the lateral visual network in RBD patients and on the sensorimotor network in PD patients were found. These may provide novel clues to understanding the pathology and improve diagnosis.