Abstract
The REM parasomnia REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) was described for the first time in 1986 and 10 years later identified as a prodromal stage of Parkinson’s disease in 1996 in the landmark publications of C. Schenck, M.W. Mahowald, and coworkers from Minnesota, USA. The subsequent rapidly evolving insights into RBD as an early stage of alpha-synucleinopathies (Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy) were the stimulus for W. Oertel from Marburg, Germany, and his collaborators to initiate and create a worldwide network of specialists working in this field. The aim of the network was to develop standardized diagnostic tools to discover the alpha-synucleinopathies at an early stage and to foster the development of therapies to prevent conversion of RBD into clinically manifest neurodegenerative diseases. After discussing the idea with the interested specialists at several international conferences, the Marburg research group organized the first RBD study group meetings in Marburg in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the “International RBD Study Group (IRBDSG)” was officially founded at a meeting in Monte Verità, Switzerland. Since then nine further meetings have been held in different locations worldwide. The IRBDSG has produced nine peer-reviewed scientific publications and worked on standardization of diagnostic tools, classification of RBD, and a databank and on the design of protocols for disease-modifying studies. The discussions within the group have triggered many local, national, and international initiatives.
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Acknowledgment
WH Oertel is a Hertie Senior Research Professor, supported by the charitable Hertie Foundation, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
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Oertel, W., Mayer, G., Salminen, A.V., Schenck, C.H. (2019). The Foundation of the International RBD Study Group (IRBDSG). In: Schenck, C., Högl, B., Videnovic, A. (eds) Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90152-7_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90152-7_3
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