In the journal EClinicalMedicine, experts at the University of Birmingham published their findings about the onset of frequent nightmares in middle age.
The new research report found that frequent nightmares in middle age may be linked to a higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia later in life among certain people.
The dementia risk was initially evaluated in more than 600 middle-aged adults as part of the Midlife in the United States study.
The bottom-line: “Distressing dreams predict cognitive decline and all-cause dementia in middle-aged and older adults without cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease – especially amongst men. These findings may help to identify individuals at risk of dementia and could facilitate early prevention strategies.”
“This study investigated the association between self-reported distressing dream frequency and the risk of cognitive decline and incident dementia in community-dwelling men and women without cognitive impairment or PD.”