Nightmares Linked to Faster Aging

A new study led by Abidemi Otaiku of Imperial College London and UK Dementia Research Institute has found a strong link between frequent nightmares and accelerated biological aging, as well as an increased risk of premature death. The research, presented at the American Academy of Neurology Congress 2025, analyzed data from over 183,000 adults and 2,400 children over 19 years. It revealed that individuals experiencing weekly nightmares are more than three times more likely to die before age 70. The study suggests that chronic stress from nightmares, leading to elevated cortisol levels, and disrupted sleep, impairing cellular repair, contribute to faster cellular aging. The findings highlight nightmares as a significant public health concern, with researchers emphasizing that simple measures like good sleep hygiene, stress management, and treating anxiety or depression can help reduce their occurrence. Guy Leschziner provided an expert opinion, noting the biological plausibility but calling for more research to establish a causal link.