New research has found that sleep disorders could be an early warning sign for Parkinson’s.
The study, carried out by the University of Toronto, found that 80% of those suffering from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disorders during dreaming went on to develop neurological conditions.
Dr John Peever, who led the study, said: “Our research suggests sleep disorders may be an early warning sign for diseases that may appear some 15 years later in life.”
“We observed that more than 80% of people who suffer from REM sleep disorder eventually develop synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease.”
Dr Peever hopes that these findings will help combat neurological conditions in the future.
“Much like we see in people prone to cancer, diagnosing REM disorders may allow us to provide individuals with preventative actions to keep them healthy long before they develop these more serious neurological conditions,” Dr Peever continued.