REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Overview

Specialists at Mayo Clinic are experienced in diagnosing and treating REM sleep behavior disorder. Mayo has sophisticated sleep labs for monitoring people while they sleep. Sleep specialists from Neurology, Thoracic Diseases and Psychiatry work together to treat this disorder. Annually, Mayo treats more than 100 people who have REM sleep behavior disorder.

Obtaining an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis is important, because REM sleep behavior disorder symptoms can be mistaken for other disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, which may be treated differently. Also, some treatments for REM sleep behavior disorder can worsen other sleep disorders. REM sleep behavior disorder can also coexist with other sleep disorders.

Mayo Clinic treatment for people with REM sleep behavior disorder may include lifestyle modifications and medications. Learn more about REM sleep behavior disorder treatment options.

Seeking treatment for REM sleep behavior disorder also allows specialists to monitor for signs of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy or Lewy body dementia. Some patients with REM sleep behavior disorder develop these conditions. Early diagnosis may make you eligible for new and better treatments as they become available and help delay or better manage symptoms.

About REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM is the acronym for rapid eye movement, a normal stage of sleep that typically occurs several times during the night. "Normally in REM sleep, almost every muscle in your body is paralyzed and you don't move," explains Bradley Boeve, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and sleep specialist. "In REM sleep behavior disorder, the muscle paralysis is incomplete or absent, and the sleeper seems to physically act out his or her dreams. Usually, they're nightmarish, violent dreams with the person being chased or attacked by something or someone. So, people try to defend themselves or fight against it, leading to punching and kicking. They can injure themselves by jumping out of bed, striking the bedposts or diving out of bed." Bed partners often get injured, too.

REM sleep behavior disorder is much more common in men than in women and usually begins in middle age or later, though it can occur earlier.