Method for identification and/or diagnosis of REM sleep loss from blood samples

A method of diagnosing and/or identifying REM sleep loss in a mammal which comprises obtaining a blood sample of the mammal, isolating the serum from the blood sample, allowing the mammal to undergo adequate sleep, obtaining a second blood sample from said mammal, isolating the serum from said second blood sample, subjecting said first and second serum samples to electrophoresis, comparing the results of said electrophoresis of said first and second serum samples, a reduction of ˜200 kDa protein band in the first serum sample as compared to the second serum sample indicating REM sleep deprivation in said mammal.