According to a new study by Mayo Clinic, men who suffered from REM (rapid eye movement) sleep behavior disorder relatively early in life were five times as likely to develop Lewy Body Dementia later on down the road. REM sleep behavior disorder is a condition wherein the body does not automatically paralyze itself during sleep. This can lead to “acting out dreams.” Body movements such as intense leg movement, grabbing a partner, etc. have been cited as symptoms of the disorder.
As for Lewy Body Dementia, lead researcher for the study, Dr. Melissa Murray, spoke on how to describe it, “spectrum … between Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.” For their research, she and her associates took a closer look at 75 people’s medical conditions that were declared as having Lewy Body Dementia upon their passing. The connection was drawn that suffering from REM sleep disorder, “overwhelmingly increases the risk of developing dementia with Lewy bodies,” said Dr. Murray.
Being able to identify indicators that one is at-risk for dementia gives people ample time to discuss the condition with their doctors and families. In some instances REM sleep behavior disorder could crop up around 30 years prior to dementia. “These cases are, in a sense, a perfect example of people who one day may develop dementia but could be targeted early on,” said Dr. Murray.
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