Basic clinical features do not predict dopamine transporterbinding in idiopathic REM behavior disorder 

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is strongly associated with development of Parkinson’s Disease and otherα-synuclein-relateddisorders. Dopamine transporter (DAT) binding deficit predicts conversion toα-synuclein-related disorders in individuals with RBD.In turn, identifying which individuals with RBD have the highest likelihood of having abnormal DAT binding would be useful. Theobjective of this analysis was to examine if there are basic clinical predictors of DAT deficit in RBD. Participants referred for inclusionin the RBD cohort of the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative were included. Assessments at the screening visit including DATSPECT imaging, physical examination, cognitive function screen, and questionnaire-based non-motor assessment. The group withDAT binding deficit (n=49) was compared to those without (n=26). There were no significant differences in demographic orclinical features between the two groups. When recruiting RBD cohorts enriched for high risk of neurodegenerative disorders, ourdata support the need for objective biomarker assessments.npj Parkinson’s Disease (2019) 5:2 ; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-018-0073-