A new study has found that terrifying dreams in middle-aged and older adults may indicate a higher risk of future cognitive decline and all-cause dementia.
The research team from Imperial College London examined a sample of 605 middle-aged or older people, who were followed for 13 years, and compared them with data from 2,600 older adults collected in a study on ageing that included a 7-year follow-up.
The researchers found that compared to middle-aged adults who reported no distressing dreams at the start of the study, those who reported having distressing dreams weekly had a four-fold higher risk of experiencing cognitive decline.
According to Medical Express, the risk of dementia in older adults who experienced nightmares at the same rate more than doubled.
Lead researcher Dr Abedemi Otiko said: “Nightmares are very strongly linked to many brain conditions, and I firmly believe that doctors should be asking more questions about nightmares.”