North American network for early REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)

North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium for RBD, Stage 2 (NAPS2)

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11518827

This program follows people with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) to learn about early changes that often lead to Parkinson’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, or related conditions.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11518827 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would join a multi-site program that tracks people with confirmed RBD over time using regular clinical exams, standardized tests, and collection of biofluids like blood or spinal fluid. Participants come from multiple North American centers and were enrolled after sleep studies that confirmed RBD. The project builds long-term infrastructure so researchers can spot early signs of synuclein-related diseases and prepare neuroprotective treatment trials. Data and samples are collected in a uniform way to allow comparisons across sites and over years.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with REM sleep behavior disorder, preferably confirmed by a polysomnogram, who do not yet have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy.

Not a fit: People without RBD or those already diagnosed with advanced Parkinson’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify who is most likely to develop Parkinson’s or dementia with Lewy bodies and speed up trials of treatments to slow or prevent those diseases.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier work by the original NAPS consortium and other RBD cohorts has shown RBD commonly precedes synucleinopathies and can be tracked over time, but effective neuroprotective treatments have not yet been proven.

Where this research is happening

SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and its related dementias

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.