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Nightmares Linked to Faster Biological Ageing and Early Death
Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, by S. Abbas Raza
Reported by Chris Simms | New Scientist
A new study has found a striking association between frequent nightmares and accelerated biological ageing — potentially leading to a shorter lifespan.
“People who have more frequent nightmares age faster and die earlier,” said Dr. Abidemi Otaiku of Imperial College London, the study’s lead author.
Study Highlights:
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The study analyzed longitudinal sleep and health data from over 3,000 adults across several cohorts.
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Individuals who reported frequent nightmares (once a week or more) showed biomarkers of faster biological ageing, such as shorter telomeres, increased epigenetic age, and higher inflammation markers.
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Frequent nightmares were also linked to a higher risk of all-cause mortality, even after controlling for factors like insomnia, depression, and physical illness.
Otaiku explained that the findings do not mean nightmares directly cause death, but rather suggest that they may reflect underlying disruptions in brain health, stress physiology, or sleep architecture that contribute to faster aging.
“Nightmares may be a warning sign — a psychological symptom of a deeper, systemic problem with the body’s stress regulation and repair mechanisms.”
Possible Mechanisms:
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Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels during disturbed sleep.
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Reduced deep sleep, which is essential for physical and mental restoration.
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Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress associated with fragmented REM sleep.
Experts commenting on the study stressed the importance of not dismissing nightmares as merely psychological phenomena. They could be early indicators of neurodegenerative or cardiovascular risk.
Clinical Implications:
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Doctors may need to screen patients with frequent nightmares for other age-related conditions.
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Psychological or pharmacological interventions targeting nightmare frequency could have broader health benefits.
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The study advocates for nightmares to be considered a biopsychosocial marker of systemic health risk.
Dr. Otaiku and his team are now planning intervention trials to see whether reducing nightmares through therapies like Image Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) or lucid dreaming techniques can slow biological ageing.
Let me know if you’d like a plain-language summary, a chart of the biological markers discussed, or related studies on nightmares and neurodegeneration.
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