Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI for identifying dopamine transporter imaging abnormality risk in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Jul. 2026

Background and Objectives

Evaluated NM-MRI alterations in the SNpc of iRBD patients, using DaT imaging to assess its performance in detecting early DA dysfunction.


Methods

· Included 66 patients (47 retrospective, 19 prospective) with abnormal overnight polysomnography sleep behavior.

· Utilized template-guided semi-automated quantification consisting of manual template definition and automated individual-level propagation.


Results

Stratified NM-MRI diagnostic performance across bilateral, right, and left PET anomalies in the SNpc subregions.


Conclusion

· Demonstrates that semi-automated NM-MRI metrics capture nigrostriatal degeneration in iRBD, specifically in those with dopaminergic deficits.

· Highlights NM-MRI's potential as a screening tool prior to DaT scans, as the degree of NM-MRI alterations is dependent on the presence of underlying dopaminergic degeneration in patients with iRBD.

  • Link

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-026-01176-0
  • Author

    Jae Rim Kim, Beomseok Sohn, Jeong Won Jo, Hwan Heo, Soohwa Song, Eung Yeop Kim, Eun Yeon Joo
  • Keywords

    Idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder, Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, Dopamine transporter imaging, HEURONNM, NM