Marisa O’Connor, 65, from Coventry, has joined a clinical trial investigating a new drug aimed at alleviating symptoms of idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). Diagnosed in late 2017, O’Connor began participating in the study after experiencing symptoms such as talking in her sleep and physically acting out vivid dreams, which included leg movements and vocal outbursts.

O’Connor’s condition first gained attention after an incident where she inadvertently kicked her husband’s recently operated knee during sleep. “I had started sort of talking in my sleep. My husband and I just thought it was quite funny,” she recalled. “Then he had a knee operation and one night when he was asleep, I kicked him in the knee that had been operated on, so it suddenly went to being quite serious.” She also noted that her vocalizations during dreams could sometimes be profane, a symptom known to occur in many iRBD patients.

Following her diagnosis, O’Connor joined a Parkinson’s research group focused on patients with related neurological disorders. In January 2026, she began taking part in the trial for the experimental drug SNT-4728. During the study, she took one tablet each morning for three months and underwent various assessments, including brain scans, lumbar punctures, and cognitive tests over a six-month period. O’Connor maintained a symptom diary throughout.

While O’Connor remains unaware whether she received the active drug or a placebo, she reported a slight improvement in her balance during the medication phase, which regressed after she stopped treatment. Additionally, she noted better performance in visual and memory tests.

Describing her participation as mutually beneficial, O’Connor emphasized the value of contributing to scientific knowledge while receiving ongoing medical monitoring. “I think it’s a great way to kind of help the whole community develop their knowledge about the disease and what to do about it,” she said. “It’s a bit of a win-win situation. You’re helping the iRBD and the Parkinson’s community. But at the same time they’re keeping an eye on you, so if they spot something early on, then you can be referred to your GP.”

The trial of SNT-4728 represents part of broader efforts to understand and treat iRBD, a disorder increasingly recognized for its potential link to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. Further results from the study are awaited to determine the drug’s efficacy and safety.