Takeaway
The neurodegeneration pattern in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), but not without, as assessed by the partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) imaging-based model, is consistent with the Braak brainstem-to-cortex model.
Why this matters
Different models of neuropathologic propagation in PD are proposed, including the traditional Braak model, all thought to represent different patient phenotypes; however, the impact of RBD, a known PD comorbidity, on PD neurodegeneration models is unknown.
The discovery of discrete models for specific PD subtypes may support a deeper understanding of the clinical and pathologic heterogeneity of PD, aiding development of therapies targeted at specific subtypes and improving patient outcomes.