Sleep is considered a time for the body to rest and the brain to organize the day’s information. It’s normal to have dreams during this time. Sometimes these dreams are clearly remembered, while other times they seem strange and blurry. Dreams are usually confined to the mind. However, this isn’t the case for some people. Their bodies also move during their dreams. Sometimes, a person screams while asleep, moves their hands and legs, or suddenly gets up from bed. People sleeping nearby may be startled by these sudden movements. Upon waking in the morning, these people often report having had a very vivid or frightening dream. Let’s find out what experts say about it.
Doctors call it rapid sleep behavior disorder. This is a rare but important sleep-related problem, as it can cause injury to themselves or their partner while sleeping. In some cases, it can also be an early sign of other brain-related diseases. According to Dr. Kenny Ravish Rajeev, Senior Consultant of Neurology and Head of Epilepsy Service, “In Rapid Sleep Behavior Disorder, a person transforms their dreams into actual actions while sleeping. Normally, during sleep, the brain temporarily deactivates the body’s muscles to prevent them from acting out their dreams. However, in Rapid Sleep Behavior Disorder, this process doesn’t work properly.”
Sleep has several stages, one of the most important of which is Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. This is when the brain is most active and most dreams occur. Normally, the body’s muscles become inactive for a period of time. However, in Rapid Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), this security pattern is disrupted, and the person begins to move their arms and legs according to their dreams. Such individuals may experience symptoms such as loud speech, shouting, flailing their arms and legs, or suddenly waking up during the night. Sometimes, they dream of defending themselves or running away from someone.
Research suggests that this problem is especially prevalent in people over the age of 50. It’s more common in men over 65, although it can occur at any age. In some cases, it may be linked to neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. To diagnose it, doctors usually use a sleep test called polysomnography, which records brain activity, muscle movements, and breathing patterns throughout the night. Treatment usually involves medications like melatonin or clonazepam, as well as making the sleeping area safe.