Scientists Identify Smoking, Head Injury, Pesticide as Risk Factors for REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A new study says that smoking, head injury, pesticide exposure, farming and less education may be risk factors for a rare sleep disorder that causes people to kick or punch during sleep. The results appear in the June 27, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Those who suffer from REM sleep behavior disorder do not have the normal lack of muscle tone that occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, causing them to act out their dreams. The movements sometimes can be violent, causing injury to the person or their bed partner. The disorder is estimated to occur in 0.5 percent of adults. For more information, click here to read the full release.