REM Sleep Linked To Parkinson’s

A new study suggests that the REM sleep disorder may be a sign of later neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease. REM (rapid eye movement), happens while dreaming. The study found that the estimated time between the start of REM and the onset of the neurological disease was 25 years.
The study focused on 27 patients with Parkinson’s Disease. In previous studies, that time frame was only 10 years.

The positive of the new findings mean that warning signs for Parkinson’s can be found much earlier, which may be able to allow for preventative measures before the diseases takes hold of cognitive function. The study sample was small however, and more research is expected to help determine the correlation.

Most of the patients in the study were male and they had varying levels of Parkinson’s Disease. The movements of the patients as REM set in included punching, kicking, and even getting out of bed. When most people dream, the brain shuts off muscles and you do not move. Those with the REM disorder act out those dreams, often in a violent manner.