Researchers in North America have found that people who toss and turn in bed and kick during sleep may face a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The restless movements during sleep appear to be linked to heightened inflammation in a brain area that regulates dopamine production. The finding was reported in a peer reviewed medical journal and contributes to the growing dialogue about early indicators of Parkinson’s disease.
Scientists describe rapid eye movement behavior disorder, or RBD, as frequent movements or dream enactment during sleep. In Parkinson’s disease and related dementia, dopamine levels drop because the brain cells that produce it die, which disrupts the brain circuits that control sleep and wakefulness.
Video polysomnography, a sleep study that records brain activity, eye movements, and muscle activity during sleep, may help predict the onset of Parkinson’s disease. In one experiment involving 170 volunteers, 80 of whom had Parkinson’s, researchers measured how much movement occurred during REM sleep. They quantified frequency, rate, magnitude, speed, and periods of quiet sleep. The analysis suggested that the test could identify Parkinson’s with about ninety-two percent accuracy. Still, clinicians caution that further research is needed to confirm these results across diverse populations and over time.
Earlier research has linked Parkinson’s disease to changes in emotional processing in the brain. The current findings add to that picture by highlighting how sleep-related symptoms and brain biochemistry interrelate and may serve as early signs in at risk groups. In North American clinical settings and in Canada, these findings could help guide screenings for individuals who report unusual REM sleep behaviors and movement during sleep. Attribution: peer-reviewed sleep research.