Some dreams can actually kill and are linked to higher early death risk than smoking, says study

Time of India

3 days ago

Nightmares might feel like harmless disturbances, but a new study has revealed they could have serious consequences for health and longevity. Researchers from the UK Dementia Research Institute and Imperial College London have found that adults who experience nightmares weekly are more than three times as likely to die before the age of 70, compared to those who rarely have them.
The study, presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025, analysed data from over 183,000 adults aged 26 to 86, and 2,429 children aged between eight and 10. Adult participants reported how often they experienced nightmares, and the researchers tracked their health over a period of up to 19 years. For children, nightmare frequency was reported by parents.
Link Between Nightmares and Accelerated Aging
One of the study's key findings was that regular nightmares were not just linked to disturbed sleep but also to signs of faster
biological aging
. Researchers measured telomere length—protective structures at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as we age—as well as molecular aging markers called epigenetic clocks. Both children and adults with more frequent nightmares showed signs of accelerated cellular aging.
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Dr Abidemi Otaiku, who led the study, explained that nightmares trigger the body's stress response. Since the brain cannot differentiate dreams from real-life events, these experiences activate the fight-or-flight system, often waking individuals with physical symptoms like sweating and a racing heart. This stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, a hormone associated with aging at the cellular level.
Otaiku noted that this cumulative stress—alongside the disruption of sleep quality and duration—may be a major contributor to faster aging and premature death. In fact, nightmare frequency proved to be a stronger predictor of early mortality than widely acknowledged risk factors such as obesity, smoking, poor diet, or lack of exercise.
Nightmares as a Public Health Concern
The findings applied across all age groups, genders, ethnic backgrounds, and
mental health
conditions, suggesting a widespread effect. Notably, even monthly nightmares were associated with increased risk, reinforcing the idea that even occasional sleep disturbances could have long-term health impacts.
The study also tracked 227 premature deaths during the follow-up period and found that people reporting weekly nightmares at the start were significantly more likely to be among those who died early.
Can Nightmares Be Prevented?
Despite the alarming results, experts stress that nightmares are treatable. According to Otaiku, managing stress and improving sleep hygiene can reduce the frequency of bad dreams. Avoiding disturbing media before bed, addressing anxiety or depression, and seeking help from sleep specialists are all recommended.
Psychological treatments like image rehearsal therapy, where individuals consciously reimagine their nightmares with more positive outcomes, have shown success and can even be practiced at home.
Given how common nightmares are and the significant
health risks
they pose, the researchers emphasised the need to take them seriously—not just as sleep disturbances, but as potential contributors to chronic stress and early death.