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Dream Disorder Linked to Later Dementia Risk
27 Jan
Summary
- Acting out dreams may predict future dementia development.
- iRBD patients showed a significant decline in memory.
- Cognitive decline was slower in women than in men.
A recent study has identified a potential link between acting out dreams and the later development of dementia. Individuals diagnosed with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), a condition where normal muscle paralysis during dreaming is lost, may be at higher risk for cognitive decline.
Researchers in Seoul, South Korea, followed 162 iRBD patients for approximately seven years. The study, published in the journal Sleep, revealed a statistically significant linear decline in memory domains, including verbal and visual recall. A marked change was also observed in tests measuring processing speed and attention.
Even among participants who did not develop neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, cognitive decline was evident. This suggests a potential underlying neurodegenerative process. The findings also indicated that cognitive decline was comparatively more gradual in women than in men, emphasizing the need for sex-specific monitoring approaches.
