From “Fits” to Parkinson’s Disease
NAPS Investigator, Alon Avidan, MD, and a team of researchers measured the extent of diagnostic delay and identified common misdiagnoses. The range of initial diagnoses given at time of presentation included night terrors, nightmares, anxiety/panic, severe obstructive sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease, and foodborne illness.
Results: The average time from dream enactment behavior presentation to RBD confirmation by PSG (polysomnogram) was 8 years.
Why it’s Important: The results of this study highlight the crucial need to further develop diagnostic tools to detect RBD so that affected patients can receive appropriate treatment within a more reasonable timeframe.