Journalists: For audio and video resources, see bottom of this post.
People with symptoms suggesting rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder have twice the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease within four years of diagnosis with the sleep problem, compared with people without the disorder, a Mayo Clinic study has found. The researchers published their findings recently in the Annals of Neurology.
One of the hallmarks of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a state of paralysis. In contrast, people with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, or RBD, appear to act out their dreams when they are in REM sleep. Researchers used the Mayo Sleep Questionnaire to diagnose probable RBD in people who were otherwise neurologically normal. Approximately 34 percent of people diagnosed with probable RBD developed MCI or Parkinson’s disease within four years of entering the study, a rate 2.2 times greater than those with normal rapid eye movement sleep.
“Understanding that certain patients are at greater risk for MCI or Parkinson’s disease will allow for early intervention, which is vital in the case of such disorders that destroy brain cells. Although we are still searching for effective treatments, our best chance of success is to identify and treat these disorders early, before cell death,” says co-author Brad Boeve, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist.
Journalists: The following audio and video clips with Dr. Boeve are available for download and use in your stories.
Broll of Patient Kicking: MOV
Broll of Patient Punching: MOV
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I am desperate. My brother is 60 years old. His sleep deprivation has become so severe in the last 2-3 months, he can barely function from day to day. At night he may sleep for half an hour then he is up sleep walking or sleep acting. He may try to do some activity or walk to the kitchen to eat and he may think there are people in the house. His wife puts him back to bed and he will be back up in another half hour acting or hallucinating again. He had been on mirapex for restless legs for three or four years. This was removed and he is still having issues. A psychiatrist put him on an anti-psychotic and sleeping pills, neither has worked. His neurologist is stumped. He ordered a sleep study. My brother did not sleep at all. The technician said he was very messed up We do not have the official results back yet. A 24 hour urine test showed nothing. Please help. My sister in law is talking about having him committed. His daily life is being affected. He is slow and uncoordinated.
Please help!!
We are sorry to hear that your brother is having such difficulties with his sleep. It sounds as if he’s been trying to seek the appropriate care. Unfortunately, we’re unable to provide a second opinion, diagnosis or treatment options through this form of communication. But, if he and his wife would like to seek a consultation with one of our sleep specialists, then please have them contact the Appointment Offices: Arizona 800-446-2279, Florida 904-953-0853 or Minnesota 507-538-3270. Thank you!
Are you aware of an individual having nonrem sleep, possibly for several years and the rationale for such an occurrence? The nonrem sleep was validated by a sleep study. When my physician asked if I was aware of having a nonrem pattern, I told him I had noticed that I seemed to not dream for some time (approximately) three years). Also, awakened by violently throwing myself over the bed. Does this make any sense to your sleep experts? I’ve been an RN for 24 years and I don’t understand. Also, diagnosed wtith fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue. If you could shed some light on this, I would be most appreciative. Maybe, I could somehow reverse the ongoing problems with insomnia. Sorry, this is lengthy. Maybe a link to help me understand would help me reverse the insomnia better. Thanks for any suggestions!
My husband was miss diagnose with pd 3 years ago has been acting out his dreams for 9-10 years. Cpap was done 5 years ago. As of September of 2012 was diagnose with MSA. Your study makes a lot of sense.
We see Dr. Cheshire at Mayo Jacksonville. Tomorrow we will do another sleep consultation , recommended by Dr Chesire.
He still acts out his dreams, now is salivating sometimes has the stridor breathing and I am afraid of aspirating. When there is salivating there is a gurgling sound in his chest.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you,
Margarita Kahn
We cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. Please continue to consult Dr. Cheshire. If you have immediate concerns, please contact the doctor’s office.
I’ve displayed the symtoms of RBD off and on mostly off for many years until this last year. I was told I have miniers disease and have suffered many bouts of virtigo also for many years. At the end of the 2012 I had an MRI which reviled a damaged area around my hearing center in my brain. Presently I am waiting for my ENT to compare cat scans I had in 2005 with the current MRI. I am for all practical purposes deaf in my left ear with roaring and ringing all the time. Right ear normal. I have not suffered headaches since I fractored my scale in 2005. Do I need to see someone more specialized then my GP or ENT?
Lauren, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. The numbers can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.org/ under “request an appointment.”
My husband has a classic case of RBD which his has been medically treated for about 5 years now. It took us a year to get a diagnosis since his PCP had never heard of RBD and thought he was having anxiety. The medication is effective and thankfully he has only minor regular sleep actions and occasional larger incidents such as jumping out of bed.
With all the recent discussion in the news of football concussion injuries, I was wondering if there has been any link to the high incidence of males with this disorder and past head injuries? My husband played football for a number of years in grade school.
Also, is more being done to educate PCPs about this disorder so that patients and their families do not have to struggle with this as an undiagnosed disorder?