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Beyond Tremors: Alda's Unusual Parkinson's Symptom
7 Oct
Summary
- REM sleep behavior disorder preceded Parkinson's diagnosis.
- Acting out dreams, like throwing a pillow, was an early sign.
- Parkinson's risk increases with age and protein buildup.
Actor Alan Alda's early Parkinson's disease symptom was not the common tremors, but rather acting out dreams during REM sleep. This condition, known as REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), occurs when the body's natural paralysis during dreaming is disrupted, leading to physical actions. Alda described an instance where he threw a pillow at his wife while dreaming.
RBD is often an early indicator of neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's, stemming from alpha-synuclein protein buildup in the brain. While not everyone with RBD develops Parkinson's, it is a significant risk factor. Alda received his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2015 and has also shared his experience with prosopagnosia, or face blindness.
The risk of developing a neurodegenerative condition after an RBD diagnosis increases over time, with studies showing high percentages of patients developing such conditions within 14 years. Factors like age over 50 and being male are also risk factors for RBD. Diagnosis involves sleep studies and a review of sleeping behaviors.
Safety measures for individuals with RBD include making the sleeping environment safer, such as removing sharp objects. While no FDA-approved medications exist for RBD, treatments like melatonin and clonazepam have shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms. Alda's experience highlights the diverse and sometimes unusual early signs of Parkinson's.
