According to a University of Birmingham study, those who experience regular nightmares between their late 30s and early 60s are more likely to develop dementia.
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The research reveals that nightmares might occur regularly, decades before dementia's typical memory and reasoning impairments manifest themselves.
Few early risk indicators for dementia
Dr. Abidemi Otaikue and his colleagues have demonstrated that, in the general population, nightmares (or distressing dreams as they are referred to in the paper) can be linked to dementia risk and cognitive impairment for healthy individuals.
Otaiku added that the findings are of significant importance since only a small number of dementia risk factors may be recognized as early as middle age.
It is important to note that further research is necessary to verify the aforementioned connections. However, the research team thinks that nightmares might be a valuable tool for identifying people with a heightened risk of developing dementia and designing preventative measures.
Further reading: What exactly is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease? (Universal-Sci)
The research
The study is built upon data from three community-based cohorts in the United States. These comprised 2,600 seniors aged 79 and older, as well as over 600 adult individuals between the ages of 35 and 64.
A variety of questionnaires were filled out by the participants, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which asked about how frequently people had nightmares.
All of the test subjects were dementia-free at the beginning of the research project. The younger individuals received follow-up for an average of approximately 9 years, whereas the older participants received followed up for an average of 5 years.
Four times as likely to experience cognitive decline
A detailed analysis of the data shows that participants aged between 35 and 64 who experience nightmares on a frequent basis (at least once a week) are 4 times as likely to encounter problems with premature cognitive degradation. In addition, older individuals are 2 times as likely to develop dementia under the same circumstances.
An enormous difference between men and women
One interesting note worth mentioning is that the link between frequent nightmares and dementia was considerably more prominent for men than women.
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For example, the risk of dementia for older men who experience nightmares frequently (once a week or more) is 500% higher than for those who reported no distressing dreams at all.
Looking at the same age category in women and the increase is only 41%. Still a significant increase, of course, but far less prominent than with men.
What about younger people?
The research team plans to have a look at the biological foundation of nightmares (using MRI scans and electroencephalography) as well as young people to see if frequent nightmares can serve as an indicator of dementia for them too.
Another topic on the list of things that merit a closer look in relation to dementia risk is supplementary dream characteristics. Think of elements such as the vividness of dreams and how well we can recall them at a later point in time.
The current research has been published in the weekly peer-reviewed journal eClinicalMedicine, (part of The Lancet). We have listed it below for those interested in more details about the study.
Sources and further reading:
Distressing dreams, cognitive decline, and risk of dementia: A prospective study of three population-based cohorts (The lancet)
How to reduce your risks of dementia (Universal-Sci)
Keeping your brain lively with games may defer Alzheimer's dementia for several years (Universal-Sci)
What is the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia? (Universal-Sci)
Can the MIND diet really lower the risk of developing dementia and improve your brain health? (Universal-Sci)
Speaking two languages shields you from cognitive decline and dementia (Universal-Sci)
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