Have you ever woken yourself from a dream by shouting or jumping out of bed? While uncommon, you’re not alone. Sleep talking (somniloquy) is most common in children and males, although women can sleep talk, too. Very few people, if any, sleep without dreaming. It’s more likely that those who say they don’t dream, just don’t remember their dreams. Dreaming is a natural state and has been explained as the body’s response to daily stressors, unfulfilled desires, or, humorously, a late night pizza binge. In most cases dreaming is not harmful to the body, however, a recent study by the University of Toronto suggests that sleep behavior disorders (not just casual dreaming) may be a predictor of future brain diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.
What is a sleep behavior disorder?
Rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) occurs during the rapid-eye-movement (REM) stage of sleep. Most people experience up to 4 cycles of REM sleep during a full night of rest. Rather than just experience a dream, people with RBD tend to act out their dreams, raising the risk of hurting themselves or their partner.
How are sleep disorders linked to brain disease?
In healthy brains, muscles in the body are temporarily paralyzed during sleep to prevent movement and lower the risk of harming yourself. Sleep disorders may signal that the brain is experiencing degeneration resulting in more active sleep sessions. Dr. John Peever, study lead, explained that up to 80 or 90% of patients with RBD would develop a brain disease. The study may be useful in helping doctors diagnose brain diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s early on and to provide correct medication to prevent against more severe degeneration.
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease Treatment in Orange County, CA
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, there are treatments to help slow down the diseases and alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s. Dr. Duma has surgically managed movement disorders for 27 years, having performed over or thalamotomies, 60 Gamma Knife thalamotomies, 45 fetal tissue transplantations, and numerous deep brain stimulator (DBS) implantations. Learn more about our Newport Beach Neurosurgery practice by calling us at (949) 642-6787.
