Years before he forgot a single name, a gentle retired teacher started throwing punches in his sleep, so violently his family called a pastor for an exorcism.
What was really happening was not a demon or an ordinary bad dream. It was one of the most powerful early warning signs of dementia neuroscience has ever found, and it can appear up to 15 years before memory loss begins. Normally your brain paralyzes your body while you dream, but when that switch fails, you physically act out your dreams, shouting, kicking, punching. Doctors call it REM sleep behavior disorder, and studies link it strongly to Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia years down the road. One reassuring note: a scary nightmare alone is completely normal. The red flag is the acting-out.
And it is just one of seven quiet signals that can show up a decade early, in your sleep, your sense of smell, your checkbook, your humor, your eyesight, your walking speed, and your personality. A fading ability to identify common scents, trouble managing money, a sudden new love of slapstick, or a slowing stride can all be whispers worth noticing.
Here is the hopeful part: an early sign is a head start, not a verdict, and research suggests nearly half of dementia cases may be delayed or prevented. If you recognize these, talk to a doctor.
Has anyone ever told you that you thrash or shout in your sleep?
#Dementia #Alzheimers #BrainHealth
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