Link Between Parkinson Disease and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder With Dream Enactment: Possible Implications for Early Rehabilitation

The purpose of this article is 2-fold: first, to inform readers of the link between the loss of motor inhibition during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep dreaming, diagnosed as REM sleep behavior disorder, and the future onset of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies; it has been reported that motor disinhibition during REM sleep often precedes the onset of these disorders by years or even decades; second, to consider that the identification of REM sleep behavior disorder and the early involvement of rehabilitation and/or development of home exercise plans may aid in prolonging and even increasing function, independence, and quality of life, should such neurodegenerative disorders develop later in life.