REM Behavior Disorder. Not all is about Synucleinopathy
REM behavior disorder (RBD) is a type of parasomnia that arises during the REM phase of sleep. Physiologically, REM phase is characterized by atonia. It is probable the portion of sleep on which dreams are more vivid and frequently remembered. However, in subjects suffering RBD REM atonia is absent, and therefore they enact their dreams, conducting abnormal behaviors, with violent movements, often kicking or punching. It is frequently the patient's bed partner who decides to ask for a medical opinion. Other times the patient suffers any injury related with the involuntary movements. When awaken, the patient can easily describe the content of the dream he was on. Dreams are usually about violent situations, for example being attacked or assaulted, and they try to defend themselves. For this reason, the movements tend to be vigorous and violent, and they are often accompanied by shouts or vocalizations. RBD patients do not usually leave the bed or walk during the episodes, which differentiates it from non-REM parasomnia (sleepwalking, sleep terrors and confusional arousals). Non-REM parasomnia tends to occur during the first third of sleep period, when non-REM predominates. Conversely, RBD occur during the last third of sleep period.
Citation: Celia Garcia-Malo, Sara Boi. “REM Behavior Disorder. Not all is about Synucleinopathy”. SVOA Neurology 1:1 (2020) Pages 40-40.
