Alan Alda reveals strange sleep habit that was first signs of Parkinson’s
New York Post • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Alan Alda revealed that his first symptom of Parkinson’s disease was REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), where he physically acted out his dreams, such as throwing a pillow at his wife while asleep.
- RBD occurs during REM sleep when the normal paralysis of muscles is disrupted, causing people to move, punch, kick, or yell during vivid dreams, and is often linked to Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- RBD can precede a Parkinson’s diagnosis by years and is considered a significant risk factor, with studies showing a high percentage of patients developing neurodegenerative conditions within 14 years of RBD diagnosis.
- Diagnosis of RBD involves sleep behavior assessments and polysomnography, and safety precautions are recommended to prevent injury during sleep episodes.
- Alan Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015 and also experiences prosopagnosia; Parkinson’s affects over 1.1 million people in the US, with risk increasing with age.
