An Early Warning Sign of Dementia Risk May Be Keeping You Up at Night
ScienceAlert••health
Key Points:
- A 2022 study published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine found that frequent bad dreams and nightmares during middle and older age may be linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.
- Analysis of over 3,200 dementia-free participants showed that middle-aged individuals experiencing weekly nightmares were four times more likely to experience cognitive decline, while older participants were twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
- The association between nightmares and dementia risk was significantly stronger in men, with older men having weekly nightmares being five times more likely to develop dementia compared to those without bad dreams.
- While it remains unclear whether nightmares cause dementia or serve as an early warning sign, treating recurring nightmares—which is possible with existing medical interventions—may help slow cognitive
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