Exploring brain health signals in dreams: revealing early clues to Parkinson's disease

This is the 5267th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

1. Do our dreams really have any suggestive meaning?

From the ancient "The Interpretation of Dreams by Zhou Gong" to modern scientific research, people have never stopped exploring dreams. Today, science has proven that dreams are closely related to the activity states of different areas of the brain:

When the prefrontal cortex is resting, dreams may be filled with bizarre and illogical scenarios;

When the visual area and motor cortex are active, dreams are often accompanied by a variety of actions and images;

An active amygdala can give dreams rich emotional colors, such as joy, anger, or grievance.

2. Occasional sleep jerks are nothing to worry about, but sleep disorders need to be watched out for

Twitching while falling asleep is a common phenomenon, but if nightmares occur frequently, especially accompanied by somniloquy (such as large movements or sounds in dreams), it should be taken seriously, as it may be an early sign of Parkinson's disease.

Studies have shown that specific dream content (such as nightmares, feelings of being attacked, and playing animals in dreams) is related to the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. According to a study by The Lancet, people with frequent nightmares have a four-fold higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease than normal people, especially among people aged 70 and above, where nightmares are most strongly associated with the onset of Parkinson's disease. This finding is highly consistent with the median age of onset of Parkinson's disease.

3. How to identify the signs of Parkinson’s disease early?

Observation of motor symptoms

Early symptoms include hand tremors, body stiffness and slow movements, and observation of these motor symptoms is crucial for early detection.

Non-motor symptoms of concern

In addition to motor symptoms, Parkinson's disease may also be accompanied by non-motor symptoms such as loss of smell, constipation and sleep disorders. This includes sudden changes in dreams. Before Parkinson's disease is diagnosed, patients may experience rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which manifests as violent movements and dream behaviors during sleep. Once the above symptoms occur, you should consult a professional doctor in time for necessary examinations and diagnosis for early detection and treatment.

4. Principles of Parkinson's medication

Parkinson's disease is a lifelong disease. According to current treatment methods, once you are ill, you cannot be cured. Various treatment methods can only improve the patient's quality of life and clinical symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Follow the principle of long-term medication.

"Dose titration" should be adhered to to avoid acute adverse drug reactions, and efforts should be made to achieve the medication principle of "achieving satisfactory clinical effects with the smallest possible dose", which can avoid or reduce the incidence of movement complications, especially dyskinesia.

5. Insomnia and dreaminess caused by non-diseases are more important to improve your lifestyle

Dreams are not only a part of our daily lives, but may also be an important signal of health. Through scientific research, we have found that abnormal changes in dreams, especially phenomena such as nightmares and somnolence, may be closely related to the early manifestations of neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Therefore, paying attention to changes in dreams, especially when frequent nightmares or abnormal sleep behavior occur, can provide valuable clues for the early identification of Parkinson's disease. At the same time, early intervention and standardized treatment of Parkinson's disease can significantly improve the patient's quality of life and slow the progression of the disease. We should pay attention to non-motor symptoms, especially changes in sleep and dreams, identify them early and consult professional doctors to ensure timely and effective treatment, maximize the quality of life, and delay the progression of the disease.

References:

[1] Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Group, Chinese Society of Neurology, Chinese Journal of Neurology 2020; 53(12): 973-986.

[2]Kanae Jennifer Nagao et al. Drugs Context . 2019 Aug 13;8:212592.

[3] Expert consensus writing group on the diagnosis and treatment of motor complications of Parkinson's disease with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Chinese Journal of Neuroimmunology and Neurology, 2020(4):247-252.

[4]Chang AY, Lancet Public Health. 2019;4(3):e159-e167.

[5]Zhang ZX, et al. Lancet. 2005;365(9459):595-7.

[6]Ramón Cacabelos. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(3):551.

Author: Clinical pharmacist training trainee of Shanghai First People's Hospital

Jia Mengqi

Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital

Dr. Lu Jin