Gaby
Nightmares may signal a higher risk of dementia in later life. One of the clearest early signs is having unpleasant or terrifying dreams that wake a person up.
A new study found that dreams can reveal surprising information about brain health. Frequent nightmares in middle age or older adulthood were linked to a greater risk of developing dementia.
During the research, the team analyzed data from three large studies focused on health and aging in the United States. More than 600 participants aged 35 to 64 and about 2,600 participants aged 79 and older were included. At the beginning of the study, none of the volunteers had dementia, as reported by Science Alert. Researchers monitored the middle-aged participants for nine years and the older participants for five years.
At the start of the study, participants completed a questionnaire about their nightmares.
The risk of dementia was about twice as high among those who reported frequent nightmares. The association between night terrors and later dementia was much stronger in men than in women.
Older men who reported weekly nightmares were five times more likely to develop dementia than older men who reported no bad dreams.
Overall, the findings suggest that recurring nightmares in middle and older age may be associated with an increased risk of dementia.
The good news is that recurring nightmares are now treatable. Research shows that timely treatment of night terrors can reduce the buildup of abnormal proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies also report improvements in memory and cognitive abilities after such therapy.
The results not only link nightmares to dementia risk but also suggest new options for earlier diagnosis and treatment of cognitive decline. They also shed light on the nature of dreaming.
The study’s conclusions were published in the journal eClinicalMedicine / The Lancet.
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