At E Hospital's mental health department, Doctor Nguyen Viet Chung, head of the department, diagnosed the 55-year-old man with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Doctor Chung prescribed specialized tests and medication, also advising the family to secure the bedroom by removing sharp objects and placing a mattress on the floor for safety.

His wife reported that her husband would often suddenly wake, swinging his arms at her or rushing towards the door while asleep. When family members roused him, he would instantly become alert, vividly recounting his dream struggles against foes. During the day, the man functioned normally, showing no signs of delusions or hallucinations.

Illustrative photo: Max healthcare

Doctor Chung clarified this was neither a typical nightmare nor common sleepwalking. The human body cycles through non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep each night. During REM, the brain actively generates dreams, while the body normally disconnects the muscular system to prevent acting out these dreams.

However, RBD completely disrupts this motor "lock" mechanism. Neural networks remain active, causing the body to physically act out dreams—punching, shouting, or running. Unlike typical sleepwalkers who make simple movements early in sleep and forget everything upon waking, RBD patients perform violent actions in the early morning and often recall detailed memories.

The medical community considers REM sleep behavior disorder a "golden marker" for early detection of various neurodegenerative diseases. This syndrome often manifests years or decades before the onset of clear symptoms like Parkinson's disease, dementia, or multiple system atrophy. Consequently, doctors recommend regular follow-up examinations for patients to promptly identify and mitigate the risk of future cognitive decline.

Thuy An