Genetic associations between post-traumatic stress disorder and REM-sleep behavior disorder

Morvarid Ghamgosar Shahkhali; Lang Liu; Mohammad H Ghamgosar Shahkhali; Eric Yu; Farnaz Asayesh; Jamil Ahmad; Meron Teferra; Isabelle Arnulf; Pauline Dodet; Yo-El Ju; Michele T M Hu; Jacques Y Montplaisir; Jean-François Gagnon; Alex Desautels; Abubaker Ibrahim; Ambra Stefani; Birgit Högl; Merve Aktan-Süzgün; Alex Iranzo; Mónica Serradell; Angelica Montini; Gerard Maya; Carles Gaig; Gian Luigi Gigli; Mariarosaria Valente; Francesco Janes; Andrea Bernardini; Yves Dauvilliers; Karel Sonka; David Kemlink; Petr Dusek; Michael Sommerauer; Gültekin Tamgüney; Michela Figorilli; Monica Puligheddu; Valerie Cochen De Cock; Wolfgang Oertel; Annette Janzen; Elena Antelmi; Brit Mollenhauer; Friederike Sixel-Doring; Michele Terzaghi; Giuseppe Fiamingo; Matej Skorvanek; Kristina Kulcsarova; Beatriz Abril; Luigi Ferini-Strambi; Jitka Bušková; Beatrice Orso; Pietro Mattioli; Dario Arnaldi; Femke Dijkstra; Mineke Viaene; Bradley F Boeve; Owen A Ross; Guy A Rouleau; Lee E Neilson; Jonathan E Elliott; Miranda M Lim; Ronald B Postuma; Ziv Gan-Or

doi:10.1038/s41531-026-01397-6

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Genetic associations between post-traumatic stress disorder and REM-sleep behavior disorder

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Genetic associations between post-traumatic stress disorder and REM-sleep behavior disorder

Morvarid Ghamgosar Shahkhali, Lang Liu, Mohammad H Ghamgosar Shahkhali, Eric Yu, Farnaz Asayesh, Jamil Ahmad, Meron Teferra, Isabelle Arnulf, Pauline Dodet, Yo-El Ju, …

NPJ Parkinson's Disease

05/21/2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41531-026-01397-6

PMID: 42168223

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Abstract

Isolated/idiopathic rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is, in most cases, an early form of α -synuclein-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Clinical reports suggest that iRBD is more common in individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) compared to those without PTSD. We conducted polygenic risk score (PRS), genetic correlation, and Mendelian randomization analyses to explore potential genetic and/or causal associations between PTSD and iRBD. Dopamine transporter imaging binding status was also examined in iRBD patients with (N = 6) and without PTSD (N = 32). While not supporting a causal relationship, genetic analyses revealed a significant association between PTSD and iRBD, consistent with the exploratory imaging substudy. These findings suggest that individuals genetically at risk for PTSD may also be at higher risk for iRBD. Further investigation of iRBD in individuals with PTSD may help inform potential neurodegenerative risk.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Genetic associations between post-traumatic stress disorder and REM-sleep behavior disorder
Creators: Morvarid Ghamgosar Shahkhali - McGill University
Lang Liu - McGill University
Mohammad H Ghamgosar Shahkhali - Department of Computer Engineering, Ahrar Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Rasht, Iran
Eric Yu - McGill University
Farnaz Asayesh - McGill University
Jamil Ahmad - McGill University
Meron Teferra - McGill University
Isabelle Arnulf - Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris
Pauline Dodet - Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris
Yo-El Ju - Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Michele T M Hu - University of Oxford
Jacques Y Montplaisir - Canadian Sleep & Circadian Network
Jean-François Gagnon - Canadian Sleep & Circadian Network
Alex Desautels - Canadian Sleep & Circadian Network
Abubaker Ibrahim - Innsbruck Medical University
Ambra Stefani - Innsbruck Medical University
Birgit Högl - Innsbruck Medical University
Merve Aktan-Süzgün - Innsbruck Medical University
Alex Iranzo - Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Mónica Serradell - Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Angelica Montini - Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Gerard Maya - Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Carles Gaig - Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Gian Luigi Gigli - University of Udine
Mariarosaria Valente - University of Udine
Francesco Janes - University of Udine
Andrea Bernardini - University of Udine
Yves Dauvilliers - Université de Montpellier
Karel Sonka - Charles University
David Kemlink - Charles University
Petr Dusek - Charles University
Michael Sommerauer - University Hospital Bonn
Gültekin Tamgüney - Forschungszentrum Jülich
Michela Figorilli - University of Cagliari
Monica Puligheddu - University of Cagliari
Valerie Cochen De Cock - EuroMov Digital Health in Motion
Wolfgang Oertel - Philipps University of Marburg
Annette Janzen - Philipps University of Marburg
Elena Antelmi - University of Verona
Brit Mollenhauer - Paracelsus Elena Klinik Kassel
Friederike Sixel-Doring - Philipps University of Marburg
Michele Terzaghi - University of Pavia
Giuseppe Fiamingo - Canadian Sleep & Circadian Network
Matej Skorvanek - University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik
Kristina Kulcsarova - University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik
Beatriz Abril - Université de Nîmes
Luigi Ferini-Strambi - Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
Jitka Bušková - Charles University
Beatrice Orso - University of Genoa
Pietro Mattioli - Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
Dario Arnaldi - Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
Femke Dijkstra - Antwerp University Hospital
Mineke Viaene - Department of Neurology, St. Dimpna Regional Hospital, Geel, Belgium
Bradley F Boeve - Mayo Clinic in Arizona
Owen A Ross - Mayo Clinic in Florida
Guy A Rouleau - McGill University
Lee E Neilson - Oregon Health & Science University
Jonathan E Elliott - VA Portland Health Care System
Miranda M Lim - Oregon Health & Science University
Ronald B Postuma - Canadian Sleep & Circadian Network
Ziv Gan-Or - McGill University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: NPJ Parkinson's Disease
DOI: 10.1038/s41531-026-01397-6
PMID: 42168223
NLM abbreviation: NPJ Parkinsons Dis
ISSN: 2373-8057
eISSN: 2373-8057
Publisher: Springer Nature
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 05/21/2026
Academic Unit: Neurology
Record Identifier: 9985164726802771

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