A study revealed that frequent bad dreams and nightmares during middle or older age may be linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.
The study analyzed data from over 3,200 people and found that weekly nightmares in middle-aged individuals quadrupled the risk of cognitive decline, and in older adults, doubled the risk of dementia. The connection was stronger in men than in women.
The findings suggest that frequent nightmares might be an early sign of dementia, preceding memory and thinking problems by years. Alternatively, nightmares could potentially cause dementia. Future research will explore whether nightmares in young people are linked to dementia risk and if other dream characteristics could predict dementia.