Disorders are although a very serious condition the level of importance given to such issues are very limited. Along with that people going through such issues usually keep it to themselves which needs to be tackled thoroughly using various awareness programs.
Attention has been drawn to a little-known and poorly understood sleep disturbance that happens throughout the rapid eye movement, or REM, period of sleep and may be a precursor to disorder of neurodegenerative brain conditions like Parkinson’s disorder and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Vital insights
In the medical community, the disorder is referred to as REM sleep behavior disorder, or RBD, and it affects roughly 1% of the entire population worldwide and 2% of those over the age of 65.
Anelyssa D’Abreu, a neurologist with expertise in geriatric neurology, spoke with The Conversation about what is known about the relationship between the condition and dementia.
What is REM exactly? To answer it in a precise manner, we experience four to five cycles of sleep each night. Each cycle comprises four stages and lasts 90 to 110 minutes. REM sleep is the fourth stage. Only 20 to 25 percent of all sleep is spent in REM sleep, but that percentage grows throughout the night.
Our muscles lose tone, making it difficult for us to get around, and our eyes move swiftly while they are closed during REM sleep. Our brain oscillations are similar to those of while we are awake. Muscle twitches, changes in our breathing rate, and changes in our blood pressure are common during this stage.
The person who suffers from REM sleep behavior disorder, however, can act out of their nightmares.
These occurrences frequently lead to injuries; patients may accidently hurt a partner or fall out of bed. 20% of bed mates and 60% of those with this disorder experience an injury while they are sleeping.
Potential findings
It is unclear how the disorder works. A definite cause may not always be found for REM sleep behavior disorder.
In some circumstances, a specific factor, such as autoimmune diseases, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, psychiatric problems, antidepressant use, or brain lesions, which are areas of degenerated brain tissue, may be the cause of the disorder. In both cases, synucleinopathies—a class of neurodegenerative illnesses in which the protein -synuclein clumps in brain cells—may be linked to REM sleep behavior problem.
Parkinson’s disease is the most prevalent of these neurodegenerative conditions. Lewy body dementia, multiple system atrophy, and complete autonomic failure are among further types. These illnesses may be preceded by REM sleep behavior disorder, or it may develop at any stage of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease is the most prevalent of these neurodegenerative conditions. Lewy body dementia, multiple system atrophy, and complete autonomic failure are among further types. These illnesses may be preceded by REM sleep behavior disorder, or it may develop at any stage of the disease.
Possible way out
For the majority of neurodegenerative conditions, there is a window that may persist for decades during which the individual with the condition either stays asymptomatic or experiences symptoms before the disorder fully manifests. In that case, RBD is a precursor to those illnesses.
its offers a chance to research how the disease develops in the brain and to create treatments which could potentially slow down or stop its progression.
For the ones with REM sleep behavior disorder, there are currently no licensed treatments to delay the first signs of these neurodegenerative illnesses. However, there are several drugs that might help with the symptoms, like clonazepam and melatonin.
Efforts to prevent injuries, such as covering windows, removing breakable items from the space, and padding floors.
Patients with REM sleep behavior disorder have the option of taking part in studies. The condition can be effectively treated to help prevent harm and enhance quality of life.
