A recent study from the University of Toronto suggests that sleep disorder behaviors could be preludes to diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, explains Dr Christopher Duma.

In healthy brains, muscles in the body are temporarily paralyzed during sleep to prevent movement and lower the risk of harming yourself. Sleep disorders may signal that the brain is experiencing degeneration resulting in more active sleep sessions. Dr. John Peever, study lead, explained that up to 80 or 90% of patients with RBD would develop a brain disease. The study may be useful in helping doctors diagnose brain diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s early on and to provide correct medication to prevent against more severe degeneration.