Study Finds Nightmares May Accelerate Ageing and Increase Mortality Risk

Quick Summary

• Weekly nightmares are linked to accelerated ageing and a tripled risk of early death, as per research by Abidemi Otaiku from Imperial College London.
• A study analyzed data from 183,000 adults aged 26-86 over periods ranging from 1.5 years to 19 years. Those with weekly nightmares were three times likelier to die before age 70 compared to individuals who rarely or never had nightmares.
• Nightmare frequency was identified as a stronger predictor of premature death then smoking, obesity, poor diet, or lack of physical activity.
• biological ageing was measured via telomere length and epigenetic clocks in adults and children (ages 8-10). Children with frequent nightmares showed shorter telomeres indicative of faster cellular ageing; similar patterns were observed across all ages.
• Stress hormone cortisol spikes during nightmares and disrupted sleep are potential contributing factors for faster cellular ageing associated with regular nightmares.
• Avoiding scary movies or managing mental health issues such as anxiety may reduce nightmare incidence, but experts emphasize the need for further research on causality.

Image Caption: “There are things we can do to prevent nightmares, such as not watching scary movies” (Photo: Andrii Lysenko/Getty Images)