Posted on 05/29/2023 4:28:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Researchers have published what they say is the first study to identify a new form of treatment for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder. This condition affects more than 3 million Americans, mostly adults over the age of 50, who often unknowingly physically act out their dreams with vocal sounds or sudden, violent arm and leg movements during slumber.
The study outlines a novel model to better characterize how REM sleep behavior disorder develops due to neurodegeneration—when brain cells lose function over time—which is associated with the accumulation of tau protein. This model provides an early-life biomarker of impending deterioration of the brain.
The paper also demonstrates for the first time that sleep medications known as dual orexin receptor antagonists—commonly used to treat insomnia, or difficulty falling and remaining asleep—can significantly reduce REM sleep behavior disorder. Current therapeutic options for this disorder are primarily limited to melatonin and clonazepam.
Nearly a third of the older subjects exhibited dream enactment behaviors reminiscent of REM sleep behavior disorder, including chewing and limb extension. After administering a dual orexin receptor antagonist twice during a 24-hour period, to evaluate sleep in light and dark phases, the researchers observed that the medication not only reduced the time it took to fall asleep and increased both the quality and duration of sleep but also reduced levels of dream enactment.
Researchers hope their findings will encourage future trials of dual orexin receptor antagonists to treat REM sleep behavior disorder in humans, given that the medication is already FDA approved.
"We anticipated finding breakdown of sleep quality with progressive neurodegeneration related to tau accumulation, but the observation of dream enactment was a surprise," said Korey Kam, Ph.D. "It was even more surprising to observe that a dual orexin receptor antagonist could significantly minimize the dream enactment behaviors."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
So is this disorder a likely reason why I try to manufacture widgets or operate machines in a half sleep state? and worse, one I cannot leave or wake up to get away from? Seriously asking, I never thought much of it other than having a stressful night of sleep.
My dog does this a lot.
When I was in high school, I started writing down my dreams every morning.
With time I remembered more and more but also could control them. Fall off a building? Just bounce back up!!
melatonin is not good beyond very moderate dosages
So I actually fly when I’m dreaming?
Cool.
I’ve learned that I can stop scary dreams by telling myself that it’s just a dream, that I can wake up from it if I want to, or I can just tell the bad parts to stop, that I’m not playing that game anymore.
Btw, I’ve been a vivid dreamer since I was a small child. I would always tell my Mom all about my dreams, in fact, anyone who would listen. Now my husband has that sole job, poor guy, but he lets me tell him anyway.
On rare occasions, he returns the *favor*, and I patiently listen to him tell me his.
I definitely brainstorm and problem solve in my dreams. It’s very expedient, I think.
Well... the wife really doesn’t mind.
what about wet dreams?
Not that I’ve had one in 50 years, but I wouldn’t want to block that. Unless that results in the dream lasting longer. Hmmm decisions decisions.
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