Rem Behavior Disorder - Sleepwalking And Other Parasomnias: Sleep Disorders
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
REM behavior disorder
Most people make subtle twitching movements during REM, but occasionally sleepers shout, punch, or otherwise act out their dreams. Men over age 50 are more likely to have this condition, known as REM behavior disorder. An estimated 85% of people diagnosed with it have hurt themselves, and nearly half have injured their bed partners.
Approximately one-third of people with REM behavior disorder develop Parkinson's disease within three years of the onset of the disorder, suggesting that similar brain structures are implicated in both conditions.
If the person is at risk for harming himself or others or is having daytime sleepiness from the sleep disruption, a medium-acting benzodiazepine may help suppress symptoms. Until the problem is under control, people can protect themselves and loved ones by sleeping in a separate room and putting sharp or breakable objects out of reach.
| Last updated: | January 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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