Scientists discover type of dream that’s an early sign of dementia or Parkinson’s in ‘almost all’ cases [Video]

09:04 EST 09 Jan 2025, updated 09:51 EST 09 Jan 2025

Those who move around in bed and thrash about during sleep could be exhibiting an early sign of dementia or Parkinson’s disease ‘in nearly all cases’, experts said today. 

Research has long suggested sufferers of a condition known medically as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) — which sees individuals ‘act out’ dreams — had increased inflammation in an area of the brain where the chemical dopamine is produced.

Parkinson’s and dementia patients are known to have diminished supplies of dopamine because nerve cells that make it have died. 

Now, US scientists say they have developed an AI-powered algorithm to analyse video recordings of clinical sleep tests.

They believe this could improve accurate diagnoses of the disorder and even prove useful in pinpointing patients at higher risk of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. 

Dr Emmanuel During, an associate professor of neurology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said: …