If you see this in your dreams, it may indicate that you have Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions around the world. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremors and stiffness. It can also cause difficulty in moving. Parkinson’s is often not diagnosed until it has reached its advanced stages. This makes it difficult to treat and manage.
Recent research suggests that Parkinson’s may manifest with subtler symptoms, years before obvious motor symptoms. A disorder called REM sleep behaviour disorder is one such symptom.
What is REM sleep behavior disorder?
Rapid eye movement sleep (REM) is the stage when most dreams occur. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) describes a sleep disorder characterized abnormal behavior while in REM.
REM sleep is a type of sleep that causes the body to temporarily paralyze so you can’t respond physically to your dreams.
RBD patients act out their nightmares, which can include kicking, punching or jumping out the bed. These movements are violent and may result in injuries to the person with RBD or their bed partner.
Parkinson’s Disease and RBD
Patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s are prone to sleep and vigilance problems. According to one study, up to 60% Parkinson’s patients suffer from insomnia. 15-59% of them also show REM sleep behaviors (RBD) and 30% are excessively sleepy during the day.
RBD affects around 1% adults. Nearly 80% of those with RBD will develop Parkinson’s or another neurodegenerative disease in the next 10 to 15 years.
It is possible that RBD may be associated with the degeneration of brainstem nuclei which control REM sleep. This is also a characteristic of Parkinson’s Disease.
A Chance for Early Detection Of Parkinson’s Disease
Early detection of Parkinson’s is essential for the effective management and treatment of this condition. RBD is one of the most reliable and earliest indicators of Parkinson’s Disease. It can easily be identified during a sleep study.
The link between RBD, Parkinson’s Disease and the RBD provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals to detect the condition earlier . This will have a positive impact on those who live with the disease.
Speak to your doctor if you or someone close to you is experiencing RBD symptoms.
Not all RBD cases lead to Parkinson’s, and not every case of Parkinson’s is preceded by RBD. The correlation between RBD and Parkinson’s disease is strong enough to warrant further evaluation.
RBD may prevent you from getting enough sleep to maintain your health, even if you don’t have symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease.
Other sleep disorders such as insomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness have been linked with Parkinson’s.
Other prediagnostic features of Parkinson’s include:
* tremors
* balance impairments
* constipation
* hypotension
* erectile dysfunction
* Urinary dysfunction
* dizziness
* fatigue
* depression
* anxiety
These early warning symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases may appear many years before the more obvious Parkinson’s Disease symptoms.
