Self-Diagnosed REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Using a Consumer Device

Could we use wearable trackers to screen for RBD? 💭

Dr. Emmanuel During and colleagues reported a fascinating case in JAMA Neurology: A man experiencing dream enactment behaviors used a wearble sleep tracker to correlate those movements to REM sleep. Using this information, he sought care with a sleep specialist and was able to be diagnosed with REM Sleep Behavior Disordeer (RBD).

Access to sleep physicians and sleep studies (polysomnograms) is a barrier to RBD diagnosis. That's why NAPS is currently conducting a pilot study at select sites to test different home-based and phone-based monitors for sleep and other neurological functions.

As this research continues, we hope to contribute to a future where we can more reliably use wearables and tech to broadly screen for and identify individuals with RBD or other sleep disorders.