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A new study has found that people who frequently experienced nightmares during childhood are more likely to develop cognitive impairment like dementia and Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease later in life. The study collected data from nearly 7,000 British residents over 50 years, including whether they had nightmares at ages 7 and 11.
Participants with persistent bad dreams had an 85% increased risk of developing cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s by age 50. The study author noted that more research needs to be done to determine if the link between nightmares and these health issues is causal.
One potential explanation for the connection could be heredity, as a gene linked to an increased risk of regular nightmares has also been linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Another possible reason could be that frequent nightmares disrupt sleep, which humans need to recharge and restore their brain energy.
If future studies prove causation, early treatment of nightmares could become a primary prevention strategy for dementia and Parkinson’s.
The study found that children who had distressing dreams at ages 7 and 11 were 76% more likely to develop cognitive impairment and nearly seven times more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s than those who had none. Of the study group that submitted to the assessment, 3.8% had developed a form of cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s Disease.
Earlier studies have suggested that middle-aged and older adults with frequent nightmares could be more than twice as likely to develop these disorders.
»Childhood nightmares could lead to cognitive impairment like dementia«
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