Parkinsons’ and related disorders appear to result from a buildup of alpha-synuclein protein in the brain. The toxic protein appears to interfere with the usual mechanisms for immobilizing people during sleep. The outcome—dream enactment—predicts Parkinsons’ or other neurodegenerative disorders 10 to 15 years before more debilitating symptoms emerge, raising hope that early interventions can fend off the disease. The condition is also shedding light on the nature of dreams.
CLIENT: Scientific American
AD: Michael Mrak