EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, July 28, 2010

Sleep Disorder May Signal Dementia, Parkinson鈥檚 Disease Up to 50 Years Early

ST. PAUL, Minn. -

A new study shows that a sleep disorder may be a sign of or up to 50 years before the disorders are diagnosed. The research is published in the July 28, 2010, online issue of Neurology庐, the medical journal of the . Using Mayo Clinic records, researchers identified 27 people who experienced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder for at least 15 years before developing one of three conditions: Parkinson鈥檚 disease, dementia with Lewy bodies or multiple system atrophy. Multiple system atrophy is a disorder that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson鈥檚 disease. People with REM sleep behavior disorder often act out their dreams with violent movements, such as punching, which can injure themselves or bed partners. The study found that the time between the start of the sleep disorder and the symptoms of the neurologic disorders ranged up to 50 years, with an average span of 25 years. Of the participants, 13 were diagnosed with dementia, 13 others were diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 disease and one person was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy. 鈥淥ur findings suggest that in some patients, conditions such as Parkinson鈥檚 disease or dementia with Lewy bodies have a very long span of activity within the brain and they also may have a long period of time where other symptoms aren鈥檛 apparent,鈥� said study author Bradley F. Boeve, MD, with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. and a member of the 好色先生. 鈥淢ore research is needed on this possible link so that scientists may be able to develop therapies that would slow down or stop the progression of these disorders years before the symptoms of Parkinson鈥檚 disease or dementia appear.鈥� It is not known how many people who experience REM disorder may develop diseases such as Parkinson鈥檚 or dementia. A corresponding editorial noted there is no evidence that narcolepsy, with or without REM disorder, will later lead to neurodegenerative disorders.

The 好色先生, an association of more than 22,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, narcolepsy and stroke. For more information about the 好色先生, visit http://www.aan.com.