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Key Points

Researchers in Montreal have identified a significant linkage between REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and the eventual development of neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia (LBD). The study highlights that nearly 90 percent of individuals with RBD, where patients physically enact their dreams, are likely to progress to these conditions. Using MRI scans, the study discovered distinct patterns of brain atrophy associated with both diseases, offering potential early diagnosis and treatment pathways. This discovery paves the way for better understanding and monitoring of at-risk individuals, giving hope for preemptive healthcare interventions.

Key Points: Sleep Disorders Link to Parkinson's and Dementia Risks

  • REM disorder patients act out dreams physically
  • Condition indicates potential Parkinson’s and dementia development
  • Study uses data from 1,276 MRI scans
  • Machine learning reveals brain atrophy patterns
3 min read

Sleeping disorders may signal risk of Parkinson's disease, dementia

REM sleep disorders could foretell Parkinson's or dementia, says Montreal study.

"RBD is an early warning sign that certain mechanisms in the brain are no longer working as they should. - Research Team"

New Delhi, May 30

Sleeping disorders may be act as an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia (LBD) -- a type of dementia, according to a study.

The study focussed on patients with Rapid eye movement behaviour disorder -- a sleep disorder where individuals physically act out their dreams during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep.

"Normally, when we're asleep and dreaming, our muscles are paralysed, but around age 50, some people become very agitated during sleep and start punching, kicking and screaming," said Shady Rahayel, a medical professor at Université de Montréal in Canada.

Unlike sleepwalking, which occurs during slow-wave sleep, RBD occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, he added, and it affects people of middle age.

In the study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, the researchers said that nearly 90 per cent of people with the disorder will go on to develop either Parkinson's disease or LBD.

“RBD is an early warning sign that certain mechanisms in the brain are no longer working as they should," said the team.

"The people with RBD who come to see us are in good health... but of those who subsequently develop a disease, half will have Parkinson's and the other half LBD."

Rahayel explained that with LBD, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's, "patients are no longer able to function in everyday life".

In addition to dementia, "they will have Parkinson's-like symptoms, vivid visual hallucinations, fluctuating attention and other symptoms."

For the study, the team used data from 1,276 MRI scans of people at risk of, or with, Parkinson's disease or LBD, and also of healthy people.

Using machine learning and computational models, the researchers identified two trajectories of brain atrophy progression.

LBD seems to be associated with brain atrophy that begins in the cortex and then spreads to the interior of the brain, while in Parkinson's the atrophy progresses from the interior to the exterior of the brain.

The team next aims to investigate the factors that lead to this deterioration in the cortex, such as vascular lesions, the effects of drugs, and of lifestyle choices.

"Now that we have identified these new progression patterns, our goal is to be able to determine from an MRI whether a person has one of them so that we can provide the best possible care," said Rahayel.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
This is really concerning! My father used to talk in his sleep and sometimes move his arms around. We thought it was normal aging but now I wonder if we should get him checked. Thanks for sharing this important research. 🙏
R
Rahul S.
Interesting study but I wish they included more Indian participants. Our lifestyle, diet and genetics are different from Western populations. Would the same indicators apply to us? More research needed for Indian context.
A
Anjali M.
My nani used to do this! She would shout in her sleep and we'd laugh it off as "ghost stories". Years later she developed dementia. This research makes so much sense now. Awareness is key!
V
Vikram J.
While the research is promising, I worry about unnecessary panic. Not everyone who moves in sleep will get Parkinson's. We need better diagnostic tools before jumping to conclusions. Still, good to be informed.
S
Sunita P.
As someone who works with elderly care, I've noticed this connection too. Many dementia patients' families report unusual sleep behaviors years before diagnosis. Early detection could help plan better care. 👍
K
Karthik R.
The article mentions lifestyle factors - does this mean better sleep hygiene, yoga and meditation could potentially delay onset? Our traditional practices might hold some preventive value here.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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