Dreams are excursions of our central nervous system, unfolding when the body is at rest, but our brains are in thrall to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. For people with a rare condition, their whole body acts out the dream, sometimes to the point where they leave their bed or even their room.
REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is distinct from sleepwalking and, if the movements are aggressive enough, can be dangerous to the sufferer as well as a sleeping partner.
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RBD is a condition that should be taken seriously, according to Jeanne Feuerstein, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, because it could also be a precursor of other neurological conditions, such as dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy (MSA) or Parkinson’s disease.
In the following Q&A, Feuerstein explains this mysterious condition, treatment options, its connection to other neurological conditions, and the focuses of her research, including a look into RBD’s ties to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The interview has been condensed for clarity.