A recent study completed by researchers in Canada has been reported by the BBC. In the study, 93 persons with what is called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder were studied. REM sleep behavior disorder is a condition in which persons will physically act out their dreams in the form of yelling, punching, kicking or other forms of physical behaviors.
The study indicates that persons with the disorder may have an increased chance of developing a degenerative brain disorder. Of the 93 subjects studied, 25% were diagnosed with degenerative brain disease in the five years following the study.
Normally, during REM sleep, our muscles do not move. However, persons with REM sleep behavior disorder are capable of muscular movement, which enables them to lash or cry out. This is “a known symptom of some kinds of brain disease, including Parkinson's disease, and a rare form of dementia called Lewy body dementia.” The participants of the study were all over the age of 65 years.
Researchers are not sure what causes the disorder, but they theorize that disease process causes early damage to the sleep center of the brain. It is hoped that this information can lead to earlier intervention in cases of neurological disease and improve outcomes.
