A disorder in which people physically act out their dreams during sleep is associated with a broader range of neurological conditions than previously understood, according to reporting by Psychiatric Times on a keynote address at the SLEEP 2026 conference.
Dr. Carlos Schenck, the keynote speaker, addressed the range of conditions linked to REM sleep behavior disorder, known as RBD. During normal REM sleep, the body is largely paralyzed, which prevents people from moving in response to dream content. In people with RBD, that paralysis does not occur, and sleepers may kick, punch, shout, or fall out of bed while dreaming.
RBD has been studied for decades as a potential early marker for neurodegenerative diseases. Research has shown that a substantial portion of people diagnosed with RBD eventually develop Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, or multiple system atrophy, sometimes years or even decades after the sleep disorder first appears. This makes RBD one of the few observable early warning signs of neurodegeneration that can be identified before other symptoms emerge.
Schenck's keynote at SLEEP 2026 drew attention to the wider range of conditions now being associated with the disorder. Psychiatric Times reported that his address covered insights into how RBD connects to this spectrum of conditions, drawing on decades of research in sleep medicine.
The clinical significance of the connection is substantial. If doctors can identify RBD early and link it to neurodegeneration risk, there may be opportunities to monitor patients more closely or enroll them in research trials aimed at slowing disease progression. At present, there is no standard treatment that prevents the transition from RBD to full neurodegenerative disease.
SLEEP 2026 is an annual conference that brings together researchers and clinicians working in sleep medicine. Schenck's keynote position reflects his standing in the field as one of the researchers who helped define RBD as a distinct clinical condition.
The disorder is considered underdiagnosed, in part because bed partners may not report unusual nighttime movements, and in part because people with RBD may not remember the episodes. Increased awareness among primary care physicians and neurologists is seen as one way to identify more patients who might benefit from closer monitoring.
