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Nightmares Might Be Silently Claiming Lives

The phrase “scared to death” may carry more truth than previously believed, especially when it comes to the effects of recurring nightmares. A recent study presented at the European Academy of Neurology’s annual conference suggests that individuals who frequently experience nightmares may face a significantly increased risk of dying early.

According to researchers, people suffering from regular nightmares also show signs of accelerated biological aging. This phenomenon is likely linked to the intense stress that nightmares trigger, which can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response even during sleep. Dr. Abidemi Otaiku, a neuroscientist at Imperial College London, explained that the brain cannot always distinguish dreams from reality, causing the body to react as though real danger is present.

The study analyzed health data from over 2,400 children aged 8 to 10 and 183,000 adults aged 26 to 86, collected from long-term U.S. studies. To gauge biological aging, researchers examined telomere length—DNA structures that protect chromosomes and indicate cellular aging. Participants who reported experiencing nightmares on a weekly basis were more than three times as likely to die before reaching age 70 during the 19-year follow-up period.

Frequent nightmares proved to be a stronger predictor of early death than many traditional health risks, including poor diet, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. These disturbing dreams also disrupted sleep and raised cortisol levels, a stress hormone linked to cell deterioration and aging. Researchers estimate that about 40% of the increased risk of early death was due to accelerated biological aging caused by nightmares.

Importantly, this risk remained consistent across all demographics, including gender, age, ethnicity, and mental health status. Even those who experienced nightmares just once a month faced elevated risks compared to those who rarely had them. Fortunately, experts emphasize that nightmares can often be prevented or managed through better sleep habits, stress reduction, and therapy. Dr. Otaiku stressed that nightmares should be treated as a serious public health issue due to their widespread occurrence and potential for intervention.