Symptom That Wakes You at Night Linked to Early Death

The Link Between Nightmares and Premature Mortality

A growing body of research is highlighting a concerning connection between frequent nightmares and an increased risk of early death. New findings suggest that people who experience nightmares regularly may be three times more likely to die before the age of 70, pointing to a potential link between sleep disturbances and accelerated biological ageing.

The study, led by the UK Dementia Research Institute and Imperial College London, examined data from over 185,000 adults and 2,429 children. For adults, participants self-reported their nightmare frequency at the start of the study, with follow-ups lasting up to 19 years. In contrast, parents reported on the frequency of nightmares in children. Researchers measured biological ageing using telomere length for children and both telomeres and epigenetic clocks for adults. These markers help assess cellular and whole-body ageing.

The results, presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025, revealed that adults who experienced weekly nightmares were significantly more likely to die prematurely than those who rarely or never had nightmares. The study found that frequent nightmares not only contributed to earlier mortality but also accelerated biological ageing. This acceleration accounted for about 40% of the increased risk of premature death.

Interestingly, weekly nightmares emerged as a stronger predictor of early death than traditional risk factors such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, and low physical activity. Dr Abidemi Otaiku, the lead researcher, explained that the brain cannot distinguish dreams from reality, which is why nightmares often cause intense physiological reactions like sweating, gasping for breath, and a racing heart.

He added: "This stress response can be even more intense than what we experience when awake. Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone associated with faster cellular ageing."

The Impact of Stress and Sleep Disruption

Dr Otaiku emphasized that chronic stress from frequent nightmares, combined with disrupted sleep, can have serious consequences. "Nightmares impair the body's ability to repair itself during sleep, which is essential for maintaining health," he said. This disruption may contribute to the accelerated ageing of cells and organs.

The study found that the link between nightmares and accelerated ageing was consistent across different demographics, including age, gender, ethnicity, and mental health status. Even experiencing nightmares once a month was associated with quicker cellular ageing and a higher risk of mortality compared to those with fewer or no nightmares.

Preventing and Treating Nightmares

Despite these alarming findings, there is hope. Dr Otaiku noted that nightmares are preventable and treatable. Simple strategies such as avoiding scary movies, practicing good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and seeking treatment for anxiety or depression can help reduce nightmare frequency.

For individuals whose nightmares significantly impact their quality of life, consulting a sleep specialist may be beneficial. Psychological treatments like image rehearsal therapy can be practiced at home and have shown effectiveness in reducing nightmare occurrences.

"Given how common and modifiable nightmares are, they should be taken seriously as a public health concern," Dr Otaiku stated. He added that if further studies confirm the causal relationship between nightmares and ageing, addressing them could become a cost-effective strategy for slowing the ageing process on a population level.

Nightmares and Cognitive Decline

This is not the first time nightmares have been linked to accelerated ageing. A 2022 study published in eClinicalMedicine found that distressing dreams were associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The research showed that middle-aged and older adults who experienced frequent distressing dreams had a higher likelihood of developing dementia, especially men.

The authors concluded that distressing dreams could serve as an early indicator of cognitive decline, potentially enabling earlier intervention and prevention strategies. This suggests that nightmares may be more than just a sleep disturbance—they could be a sign of underlying health issues that require attention.

As research continues to uncover the complex connections between sleep, stress, and long-term health, it becomes increasingly clear that addressing nightmares could play a crucial role in promoting longevity and well-being.