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Research has linked a particular sleep disorder called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. What characterizes this sleep problem, and can its presence be a good way to predict Parkinson’s risk?
This sleep problem is called RBD because it occurs during the REM phase of sleep, in which a person’s body becomes effectively paralyzed. This inability to move prevents the person from physically acting out any dream that they may be experiencing and thus stops them from potentially harming themselves or others.
People with RBD do not have this paralysis, which means that they end up acting out their dreams without any notion that they are doing so.
Research has shown that many people with RBD go on to develop Parkinson’s disease, so the McGill University team decided to find out whether an RBD diagnosis could accurately predict Parkinson’s risk.
The researchers assessed the participants’ motor function, cognitive abilities, and sensory abilities for a number of years. After a 12-year follow-up period, they found that 73.5 percent of the people involved in this study had developed Parkinson’s disease.
Moreover, participants who had started experiencing motor function issues in this period had a threefold increase in the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease or related conditions, such as dementia with Lewy bodies.
Also at high risk were participants who had developed cognitive impairment or started experiencing problems with their sense of smell.