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Connection Between REM Behavior Disorder and Memory Loss

by Justin Diep
(Stanford)

Recently an article in the French Tribune documented findings by an Australian behavioral neurologist named Brandon Boot ran at the Mayo Clinic, who discovered that there is a strong link existing between sleep disorders and its severe consequences on the memory of a person. In his findings, he discovered that REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) puts the patient at twice the risk of developing Parkinson's disease or other memory-related problems.


This was evidenced when he noticed that one-third of the people affected by the disorder, who were being studied in the research, started developing memory problems like mild cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease within only four years.

This is significant as this is the first study to quantify the risk associated with probable REM behavior disorder in average people, not only patients. As a result, this heightens the importance of recognizing the possible links between sleep disorders and other physical problems. Furthermore, by recognizing the correlation between these issues, this again elevates the need to treat sleep disorders as a serious issue, making it necessary to take steps to fix this issue on a national level. As a result, this article reveals that the importance of one’s sleeping health and hygiene, and its influence on other aspects of people’s lives.

I myself can utilize this information, for although I do not suffer from these same problems, it is necessary for me to truly value the importance of my sleeping life. If I neglect these issues, as this article revealed, I may be subjected to further problems along the course of my life, ranging from dementia to even memory problems if I do not take care of my health. As a result, this article is crucial not even to people suffering from these disorders, but is relevant to all people given the importance, as restated by this article, of sleep.

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Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

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