The research conducted by Dr. Abidemi Otaiq from the British Institute for Dementia Research and Imperial College London was presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). Otaiq is known for his work on the impact of dreams on health, particularly brain health.
Now, he and his colleagues have discovered that frequent nightmares are linked to significantly accelerated biological aging and a substantial increase in the risk of premature death.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
During the study, researchers analyzed data from 2,429 children aged 8 to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86. The participants were observed for about 19 years.
At the beginning of the study, adult volunteers reported the frequency of their nightmares, while the parents of child participants reported the frequency of nightmares experienced by their children.
The results showed that adults who reported having weekly nightmares were three times more likely to die prematurely (before the age of 70) compared to those who rarely or never experienced nightmares. Both children and adults who frequently had nightmares exhibited signs of accelerated biological aging. In adult participants, the risk of early death was 40 percent higher due to this accelerated aging, according to PR Newswire.
Meanwhile, among children who suffered from frequent nightmares, telomeres (the ends of chromosomes that shorten with age) were significantly shorter than those of their peers who typically slept soundly. This indicates early cellular aging in those children tormented by nightmares.
As Dr. Otaiq emphasized, weekly nightmares turned out to be a stronger predictor of premature death than other known risk factors such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, and low physical activity.
“Our brain cannot distinguish between dreams and reality while we sleep. That’s why we often wake up from nightmares in a sweat, with rapid breathing and a racing heart. Our fight-or-flight response kicks in, which can even be more intense than what we experience while awake,” Dr. Otaiq noted.
He also explained that nightmares lead to prolonged increases in cortisol levels, the stress hormone closely associated with accelerated cellular aging. This cumulative stress can significantly impact the aging process for those who frequently experience terrifying dreams. Additionally, nightmares disrupt both the quality and duration of sleep, “hindering the necessary overnight cellular restoration and repair.”
“The combined effects of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contribute to the accelerated aging of our cells and bodies,” Dr. Otaiq stated.
The link between frequent nightmares and accelerated aging proved consistent across all age groups, genders, ethnicities, and mental health conditions. According to the researchers, even monthly nightmares are associated with faster aging and an increased risk of death. This underscores the importance of reducing the frequency of these frightening dreams, especially among individuals with fragile mental health. The study leader believes that avoiding stress during the day and horror movies at night is essential for this purpose.