Preview of: Understanding REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Parkinson's

Want more? Listen to the full episode at parkinson.org/Podcasts.

Sleep problems affect more than 75% people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and can have a significant impact on day to day life. Common challenges include difficulty falling or staying asleep, excessive sleepiness during the day, and acting out dreams while asleep.

This episode focuses on REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep Behavior Disorder, or RBD, a condition in which people may verbally and/or physically act out their dreams. These instances can increase the risk of injury for both the person with Parkinson's and their bed partner, making awareness and symptom management especially important.

We invited Dr. Aleksandar Videnovic, Chief of the Division of Sleep Neurology at Massachusetts General Brigham, along with Caron Gan and John Poma, members of the NAPS Consortium on REM Sleep Behavior Disorders, to share insights on what RBD is, why it happens, and strategies for managing symptoms.