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EAN Congress: Frequent nightmares triple risk of early death and accelerate ageing, major study finds
- Researchers led by Dr. Abidemi Otaiku presented new findings on June 23, 2025, in Helsinki linking frequent nightmares to accelerated aging and over triple the risk of premature death.
- The research examined information from over 180,000 individuals between the ages of 26 and 86 gathered from six different population studies, finding that frequent nightmares are a more powerful indicator of early mortality than factors like smoking or obesity.
- Nightmares trigger prolonged cortisol elevation, a stress hormone related to cell aging, and disrupt sleep quality, impairing the body's overnight repair processes.
- Dr. Otaiku emphasized that individuals who experience nightmares regularly tend to exhibit accelerated biological aging and face a higher risk of earlier mortality, a trend observed consistently regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.
- The findings highlight nightmares as a public health concern and suggest that simple steps like avoiding scary movies and treating anxiety may reduce nightmare frequency and related risks.
66 Articles
66 Articles
Nightmares are more than just scary — they may increase the risk of early death
Frequent nightmares are linked to aging faster and premature death, new research suggests. People who have weekly nightmares are more than three times as likely to die before 70. Nightmares also are a stronger predictor of early death than smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and poor diet.
Frequent Nightmares Linked To Increased Risk Of Early Death, According To New Study
human-hand-in-a-nightmare A new study claims frequent nightmares are a strong indicator of an increased risk of early death and accelerated biological aging. Shockingly, the researchers who conducted the study say having night terrors on a weekly basis is a stronger predictor of premature death and faster aging than even notable risk factors such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, and a lack of exercise. The study, conducted by the UK Dementia Rese…
NewScientist
Anti-Aging, Acupuncture and Health NewsNightmares linked to faster biological ageing and early death
Scary dreams disrupt our sleep and elevate our levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may have serious consequences for our health over time
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