Nightmares reveal HEALTH warning signs

Frequent violent nightmares can be an early indicator of Parkinson's disease, predating the emergence of symptoms by up to a decade, says Dr Robert Brenner, consultant neurologist at Spire Bushey Hospital in Watford.

Parkinson's is a neurological disorder that causes muscle tremor, stiffness and weakness. The content of some patients' dreams is almost always the same, says Dr Brenner. 'They're being chased or attacked and often act out nightmares, reacting by kicking and punching, so they tend to hurt themselves or their sleeping partners.'

This is because 15 per cent of patients who go on to develop Parkinson's have REM sleep behaviour disorder, meaning they are not paralysed during this sleep phase, and can move about during nightmares.

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