A specific type of dream—one that nearly everyone on the planet is likely to experience at some point—has now been linked to an increased risk of early death.
A new large-scale study involving more than 185,000 participants has uncovered a concerning connection between the frequency of these dreams and signs of accelerated biological aging and premature mortality.
Researchers from UK Dementia Research and Imperial College London analyzed data from 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86, as well as 2,429 children between the ages of eight and ten, focusing on how often they experienced nightmares or night terrors.
At the start of the study, adult participants were asked to self-report how frequently they experienced these distressing dreams. Follow-up interviews and assessments were then conducted over a period of up to 19 years from the initial data collection.
Meanwhile, children were assessed through their parents, who in turn reported it for them.
If you exhibit nightmares frequently it could lead to an early grave (Getty stock)
Shockingly, adults who experienced nightmares at least once a week were more than three times more likely to die before the age of 70 than their peers who didn’t suffer from them as much.
The paper also found that those who experienced nightmares frequently were also displayed an increased rate of biological aging, which scientists estimated accounted for 40 percent of the increased risk of an early grave.
Why do nightmares increase the risk of early death?
“Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. That’s why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered,” Dr Abidemi Otaiku, who led the study, explained.
The study also found that night terrors were linked to biological aging (Getty stock)
“This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.”
He continued: “Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular aging.
“For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the aging process. Additionally, nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, impairing the body’s essential 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.”
Otaiku and his peers also discovered that weekly nightmares were a better indicator of whether someone would have an early death, than whether or not the participant was a smoker, lived on a poor diet, rarely exercised or were obese.
They even found that people who suffered nightmares once a month had a greater risk of an early death than those who rarely suffered them, and biologically aged at a quicker rate.
Even monthly nightmares were associated with quicker aging and increased mortality compared to rare or no nightmares, underlining the importance of reducing nightmare frequency across the population.
How can adults eliminate nightmares?
Dr Abidemi Otaiku advises against watching horror films, if you want to stop having nightmares (Getty stock)
Otaiku added: “The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated.
“Simple measures like avoiding scary films, maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and seeking treatment for anxiety or depression can be effective.
“For those who experience frequent nightmares that disrupt their quality of life, they may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist.
“Effective psychological treatments, such as image rehearsal therapy, can be practiced at home.”