Could your nightmares be linked to dementia?

Bad dreams could indicate a raised risk of developing the condition. Abi Jackson speaks to the author of a new study to find out more.

Could recurring nightmares be a sign of the onset of dementia?

Dementia rates are on the rise globally, with scientists working hard to improve our knowledge of the condition. Now, a new study has linked bad dreams in middle age to a greater risk of developing dementia later in life.

The study – published in The Lancet journal eClinicalMedicine and led by Dr Abidemi Otaiku of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Human Brain Health – suggested people who had frequent bad dreams in the mid-life years (35-64) were more likely to be diagnosed further down the line. Data from more than 600 adults in the US were examined, and none of the participants had dementia at the start of the study.