XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
  Depression
  Neuropsychiatry
  Personality Disorders
  Bulimia
  Anxiety
  Substance Abuse
  Suicide
  CFS
  Psychoses
  Child Psychiatry
  Learning-Disabilities
  Psychology
  Forensic Psychiatry
  Mood Disorders
  Sleep Disorders
   Circardian Rhythm
  Peri-Natal Psychiatry
  Psychotherapy
  Anorexia Nervosa
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
Search

Last Updated: Aug 19th, 2006 - 22:18:38

Sleep Disorders Channel
subscribe to Sleep Disorders newsletter

Latest Research : Psychiatry : Sleep Disorders

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Acting out vivid dreams may forewarn of more serious illness
Jun 19, 2006, 13:08, Reviewed by: Dr. Ankush Vidyarthi

"The danger with RBD is that patients can hurt themselves or their spouses during the acting out behaviors -- bruises, lacerations, bone fractures and even subdural hematomas have been reported,"

 
Mayo Clinic sleep medicine specialists have found that almost two-thirds of patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) develop degenerative brain diseases by approximately 11 years after diagnosis of RBD.

"This study found RBD most frequently led to neurodegenerative diseases called the synucleinopathies: Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies," says Maja Tippmann-Peikert, M.D., Mayo Clinic sleep medicine specialist, neurologist and the study's lead researcher. "From our findings, I would consider those with RBD at increased risk for these diseases."

RBD is a sleep disorder in which patients act out their dreams, which are often unpleasant and violent, according to Dr. Tippmann-Peikert. This acting out results from a loss of normal muscle paralysis in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the dream stage, which ordinarily prevents enacting one's dreams.

"The danger with RBD is that patients can hurt themselves or their spouses during the acting out behaviors -- bruises, lacerations, bone fractures and even subdural hematomas have been reported," says Dr. Tippmann-Peikert.

In this study, the investigators mailed questionnaires to 39 patients diagnosed with RBD at the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center between 1988 and 1995. If a patient had died, the questionnaire was mailed to surviving relatives. Of the 23 patients who agreed to participate, five had developed dementia or Parkinson's disease, and 10 reported neurological symptoms highly suggestive of dementia or Parkinson's disease. The patients in this study were an average of 11.2 years beyond their diagnoses of RBD.

This study is the second long-term follow-up study following patients with idiopathic, or inexplicable, RBD, confirming previous findings by Carlos Schenck, M.D., and Mark Mahowald, M.D., of Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Other studies are under way to determine whether RBD is a state of pre-Parkinson's, pre-dementia or pre-multiple system atrophy (another type of synucleinopathy), according to the Mayo Clinic researchers.

Researchers have reported that as the brain-degenerating disease progresses, RBD may decrease in frequency and intensity or resolve completely, says Dr. Tippmann-Peikert.

There is no intervention to prevent those with RBD from progressing to Parkinson's disease, dementia or multiple system atrophy, says Dr. Tippmann-Peikert, as the origin of RBD is not clear enough to develop an appropriate therapy. Even though no preventive treatment exists yet, she says RBD patients can use safety precautions in their bedrooms to prevent injury (e.g., move nightstands away from the bed, use extra pillows or pillows on the floor next to the bed for extra padding, remove dangerous objects such as weapons from the bedroom, lock all windows and doors to walk-out decks); See a sleep specialist and, if prescribed, take medications to suppress RBD symptoms; Become familiar with the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, dementia or multiple system atrophy; Follow up regularly with a sleep specialist to monitor for signs of brain-degenerating illnesses, and consider a referral to a neurologist if any signs appear

Dr. Tippmann-Peikert also stresses the importance of diagnosing RBD as early as possible.

"Awareness of excessive nocturnal behaviors and dream enactment and bringing it to the attention of a physician could lead to an early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, dementia or multiple system atrophy," she says. "Hopefully, early identification of patients with idiopathic RBD will lead to close monitoring and early treatment of any developing neurological disorders."
 

- Findings will be presented June 19 at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies' SLEEP 2006 meeting in Salt Lake City.
 

www.mayoclinic.com

 
Subscribe to Sleep Disorders Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 

Other investigators involved in this study include: Eric Olson, M.D.; Bradley Boeve, M.D.; and Michael Silber, M.B.Ch.B.

Related Sleep Disorders News

Risk Factors For Developing Complications From Sleep Apnea Surgery
Studying sleep deprivation's effect on decisions
New sleep gene discovery wakes up scientists
Diphenhydramine Does Not Improve Infant Sleep
People sleep even less than they think
Computer models may reveal what makes human body clock tick
New fruit fly protein JET illuminates circadian response to light
CBT More Effective Than Zopiclone in Insomnia
Severe hot flashes associated with chronic insomnia
Acting out vivid dreams may forewarn of more serious illness


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us