← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting NCT05262543

NCT05262543 PREdictive Risk Factors of Conversion Into Idiopathic RBD. Italian Study

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT05262543
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor University of Cagliari
Condition REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment 300 participants
Start Date 2020-05-25
Primary Completion 2025-03-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.

This trial targets 300 participants in total. It began in 2020-05-25 with a primary completion date of 2025-03-31.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a REM sleep parasomnia first described in 1986 and characterized by the loss of physiological muscle atonia typical of REM sleep and by the presence of abnormal, sometimes violent, motor activity often related to dream content The observed motor behaviors are often associated to vivid dreams, characterized by an aggressive-defensive content, even if pleasant dreams have been described, resulting in non-violent behaviors. Diagnosis of RBD requires video-polysomnographic recording (vPSG) at a Sleep Center, essential to identify and quantify the complete or intermittent loss of physiological muscle atonia during REM sleep (REM sleep without atonia, RSWA) and record any related motor behaviors. The exact prevalence of RBD in the general population is not known and it seems underrated, but is estimated to be 0.3-1.15%. RBD is defined as idiopathic or isolated (iRBD) when it is not associated with other neurological diseases. The so-called symptomatic RBD, on the other hand, can occur in association with neurodegenerative diseases of the spectrum of alpha-synucleinopathies which include Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (AMS), and Lewy Body Dementia (DLB). In recent years, several follow-up studies on large cohorts of iRBD patients have shown that the idiopathic form evolves towards a symptomatic form in most cases. More precisely, the risk of developing an alpha-synucleinopathies increases over time, with a conversion rate of up to 90% in some studies at 14 years. RBD represents an early marker of neurodegeneration, like a unique open window on the initial, pre-symptomatic phase of alpha-synucleinopathies, which could allow the use of neuroprotective therapies, as soon as they are available. Several longitudinal studies indicated older age, presence of hyposmia, abnormal color vision, minimal extrapyramidal motor signs, mild cognitive impairment, autonomic disturbances, and severity of loss of RSWA as risk factors for neurodegeneration. However, most studies investigated biomarkers separately, with retrospective study designs, in small cohorts or without a rigorous harmonization between centers in the case of multicenter studies. To date, however, there is no reliable pool of biomarkers that predict the phenoconversion into α-synucleinopathy, the timing in which this can occur, and the phenotype of α-synucleinopathy. Furthermore, despite clinical and research evidence suggesting that iRBD is a heterogeneous disorder little attention was paid to different iRBD phenotypes and currently, there are no relevant data on the impact of iRBD on quality of life. Actually, through neural network analysis approaches, it is possible to find out complex correlations between data from different sources (i.e., clinical examinations, questionnaires, biological data, imaging and neurophysiological techniques, etc.) and to identify subgroups of patients sharing the same substantial characteristics. Identifying different iRBD phenotypes through established as well as innovative biomarkers and standardized measures of wellbeing is crucial to better understanding alpha-synucleinopathies, developing targeted interventions, and reducing the disease burden. To this aim, clinical, biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological and imaging biomarkers need to be prospectively collected, according to standardized and harmonized procedures. This would significantly increase our understanding of the physiopathological processes of alpha-synucleinopathy from the prodromal phase. Indeed, identifying phenotype clusters with both consolidated and innovative biomarkers may lay the groundwork for a reliable characterization of iRBD patients, likely providing the basis for an efficient stratification of patients longitudinally followed. Several disease-modifying therapies are now in development, including but not limited to monoclonal antibodies against alpha-synucleinopathy. Prodromal synucleinopathy patients, such as those with iRBD, are the ideal target to test disease-modifying therapies because the neurodegeneration is still in an early stage and the likelihood to rescue both brain structures and function is higher. The last aim of the FarPResto study is to have a trial-ready cohort of iRBD patients, collected with standardized and harmonized procedures, to be enrolled in upcoming disease-modifying trials. The FARPRESTO project is endorsed by the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine (AIMS) and by The RBD\_Patients society (www.sonnomed.it)

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age: major of 18 years old * iRBD diagnosis, according to diagnostic criteria of the ICSD second and third edition Exclusion Criteria: * Impossibility to provide or withdraw informed consent and inability to read, write and understand the purpose and modality of the study.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Monica Puligheddu, MD, PhD

✉ centrosonnoca@unica.it

📞 070 5109 6016

Principal Investigator

Monica Puligheddu, MD,PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

University of Cagliari

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT05262543 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT05262543 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT05262543 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at centrosonnoca@unica.it for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT05262543 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Oggebbio, Italy, Cagliari, Italy.

Who is sponsoring the NCT05262543 clinical trial?

NCT05262543 is sponsored by University of Cagliari. The principal investigator is Monica Puligheddu, MD,PhD at University of Cagliari. The trial plans to enroll 300 participants.

Related Trials

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology