RBD Question of the Week❓💤💡 Is there a specific treatment to prevent neurodegeneration in those with RBD?

RBD Question of the Week❓💤💡

This week, we have Drs. Roneil Malkani from Northwestern University and Ron Postuma from McGill University to answer one of our most pressing RBD questions.

Q: Is there a specific treatment to prevent neurodegeneration in those with RBD?

A: Since RBD may present a window of opportunity to predict future neurodegenerative conditions, the diagnosis of RBD may offer those at risk an opportunity to begin specific treatments to mitigate this risk. However, at the time of writing this review (October, 2024), no specific intervention has been shown to be effective in reducing risk.

Nevertheless, many studies support maintaining an active lifestyle and daily exercise such as walking, gardening, swimming and hiking for about an hour each day might reduce the risk of neurological decline, and is generally good health advice.

Actions to maintain a healthy brain also include getting plenty of exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, ensuring adequate amount of sleep, reducing weight if you are overweight, avoiding tobacco-containing products, refraining from excessive consumption of alcohol, treating high blood pressure, diabetes, or sleep apnea if these are present, addressing hearing loss or visual loss to the extent this is feasible, and maintaining an active lifestyle with many social activities. These are good general health measures and may also help to maintain your neurological health.