Tag Archives: Nightmares

Nightmares Could Signal Brain Health Issues

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Many people experience unusual bad dreams. If you often wake up feeling anxious and sweaty, you might be concerned whether it’s simply stress or if there’s a deeper issue at play.

Recent research has indicated a link between frequent nightmares and a heightened risk of dementia.

A 2022 study published in Lancet eClinicalMedicine revealed that individuals in middle age who have weekly nightmares are more prone to cognitive decline.

Furthermore, older adults with recurrent nightmares showed an increased likelihood of developing dementia. While this may seem alarming, should it genuinely be a cause for concern?

Individuals with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, are more prone to experiencing bad dreams – Image courtesy of Getty Images

Not necessarily. The study suggests a correlation but does not establish causation. It remains uncertain whether nightmares are early indicators of existing changes in the brain or if sleep disturbances contribute to disease progression.

Other factors could also be at play—individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, and poor sleep (which themselves have ties to elevated dementia risk) are more likely to encounter bad dreams.

What we do know is that sleep is vital for brain health. Regardless of the underlying cause, there’s evidence that chronic sleep disruption or low-quality sleep may elevate the long-term risk of cognitive decline.

The takeaway? Experiencing regular nightmares alone does not serve as a dependable early warning of Alzheimer’s disease.

For now, practicing good sleep hygiene is the most effective initial step—not just for pleasant dreams, but for a healthy brain. Aim for a consistent bedtime, minimize caffeine and alcohol intake, and limit screen time before sleeping.

This article addresses the query (from Aaron Martin of Stoke-on-Trent): “I keep having nightmares.” Should I be worried?”

If you have any inquiries, feel free to email us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or message us facebook, ×or Instagram page (make sure to include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Research Indicates a Connection Between Lactose Intolerance and Nightmares

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A recent study involving 1,082 students at Macewan University explored sleep quality, dietary habits, and the perceived connection between the two, revealing a notable relationship between nightmares and lactose intolerance.

Nielsen et al. The research indicates a link between lactose intolerance, dairy consumption, nightmares, and sleep deprivation. Image credit: Micya HNBS.

“The intensity of nightmares shows a strong correlation with lactose intolerance and various food allergies,” noted Dr. Torre Nielsen, a researcher at the University of Monttoriol.

“These findings suggest that modifying dietary habits for individuals with food sensitivities may help alleviate nightmare occurrences.”

“This also explains why many attribute dairy consumption to their unpleasant dreams!”

In this study, 1,082 students from Macewan University were surveyed regarding the perceived connections among sleep duration and quality, dreams, nightmares, and various food items.

Participants’ relationships between their mental and physical well-being and their diet were also examined.

About a third of the respondents reported experiencing regular nightmares. Women were noted to reminisce about their dreams more and were nearly twice as likely to report sleep deprivation and nightmares compared to men.

Roughly 40% of those surveyed admitted to eating late at night or believing certain foods might disrupt their sleep. Around 25% felt that specific foods had a negative impact on their sleep quality.

Interestingly, those who adhered to healthier eating habits tended to report more negative dreams and were less likely to remember them.

“Journalists frequently inquire, especially around food-centric holidays, about the effects of food on our dreams. Now we have some insights,” Dr. Nielsen explained.

The majority of participants who criticized certain foods for causing sleep disturbances pointed to sweets, spicy foods, or dairy products.

A relatively small segment—5.5% of participants—believed their eating habits influenced the nature of their dreams, with many citing sweets and dairy as making their dreams more vivid or bizarre.

Researchers discovered a link between lactose intolerance, gastrointestinal issues, nightmares, and poor sleep quality, comparing reports of food intolerances with reports of nightmares and sleep deprivation.

Consuming dairy products can trigger gastrointestinal problems, leading to discomfort that affects one’s dreams and quality of sleep.

“Nightmares are particularly troubling for those with lactose intolerance, especially those experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms that disrupt their sleep,” stated Dr. Nielsen.

“This aligns with the understanding that various physical sensations can significantly impact our dream experiences.”

“Frequent nightmares can be highly disruptive, often waking individuals in uncomfortable states.”

“This may also lead to behaviors aimed at avoiding sleep.”

“Both issues contribute to a lack of restful sleep.”

Survey results will be published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology.

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Torre Nielsen et al. 2025. More Dreams of the Rarebit Devil: Correlation between Food Sensitivity and Food in Sleep and Dreams. Frontiers in Psychology 16; doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544475

Source: www.sci.news

Nightmares Linked to Accelerated Biological Aging and Increased Mortality Risk

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Strategies to Prevent Nightmares, Such as Avoiding Scary Movies

Andrii Lysenko/Getty Images

Experiencing nightmares weekly may accelerate aging and significantly increase the chances of early death.

“Individuals with more frequent nightmares experience faster aging and a higher risk of premature death,” states Abidemi Otaiku from Imperial College London.

In collaboration with his team, Otaiku examined data from over 183,000 adults aged between 26 to 86 who participated in several studies, initially self-reporting their nightmare frequency over a span of 1.5 to 19 years.

The findings revealed that individuals reporting weekly nightmares are over three times more likely to die before reaching 70 compared to those who do not experience nightmares.

Moreover, the researchers noted that the frequency of nightmares is a more potent predictor of preterm birth than factors such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, or inadequate physical activity. Otaiku presented these findings at the European Neurological Society Conference 2025 held in Helsinki, Finland, on June 23rd.

The team additionally assessed participants’ biological ages by measuring telomere lengths, small DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division; short telomeres linked to premature aging. This segment of the study also included approximately 2,400 children aged 8 to 10, while adults contributed further biological age data using epigenetic clocks.

According to Otaiku, their research established a consistent connection between frequent nightmares and accelerated aging across various ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds. “Even in childhood, those with frequent nightmares exhibit shorter telomeres, indicating faster cellular aging,” he remarked. In adults, this accelerated biological aging accounts for roughly 40% of their heightened risk of death.

Regarding the reasoning behind this association, Otaiku suggests two main factors. The first is the elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol triggered by nightmares. These levels are linked to faster cellular aging. “Nightmares elicit a more intense stress response than what is typically experienced upon waking, often rousing us with pounding hearts,” he explained.

The second factor involves sleep disruption, which hinders the body’s overnight cellular repair processes. Poor sleep quality is associated with an increased risk of various health issues, including heart disease.

For those wishing to reduce their occurrence of nightmares, Otaiku suggests straightforward strategies, such as avoiding scary movies and addressing mental health issues like anxiety.

“This is a fascinating finding with a number of biological underpinnings,” said Guy Restiner from the NHS Foundation Trust at Guy and St. Thomas. However, he emphasized that further research is necessary to identify causal relationships, noting that nightmares can be associated with various medical conditions and medications that may impact the findings as individuals age.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Cao Fei: Illuminating China’s Past and Future Through Neon Cities, Cyber Nightmares, and Dim Sum

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WWhen contemporary Chinese artist Cao Fei was negotiating a solo show at Nara Badu, the contemporary art department of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, she said it would be a traditional “white rectangular box illuminated.” He firmly insisted that there would be no such attempt.

The Guangzhou-born artist has strong ties to Sydney (the vast Chinese port city’s sister city) and wanted to capture the sass and hustle and bustle of bustling malls and markets in her show.

As a result, in “Cao Fei: My City is Yours”, gallery walls are abandoned for scaffolding, and music and sound effects from her various installations, including theaters, restaurants, and factories, play into each other. They blend together and compete for the viewer’s charm. Note.




Cao Fei’s My City is Yours includes key works from her 20-year career. Photo: Diana Panuccio

“This is not a criticism of European countries.” [style]But usually I watch a lot of video shows. [installed] Inside the white cube…you’ll see the curator turn down the volume. Quieter or cleaner,” Mr Cao told Guardian Australia.

“But I want my exhibition to reflect my personality and experience. There is always a lot of construction, demolition and reconstruction going on in my city. This is my material.”

‘My City is Yours’ is the Beijing-based artist’s first major solo exhibition in Australia, featuring major works from his 20-year career including film, photography, metaverse experiments and large-scale interactive installations at AGNSW and Sydney It is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Much of Cao’s career has been spent investigating the incredible technological and social transformations that have taken place in China over the past quarter century. She has held solo exhibitions in Beijing, London, Paris, and New York, and last year was in the world’s top 10. ArtReview’s Power 100 listwhere she was described as “a key figure in envisioning our metaverse-colored future.”




“Konatsu Foyer” is a reproduction of the foyer of the currently demolished Hong Summer Theater, which was used by artists as a studio space for six years before it was demolished. Photo: Cao Fei

Source: www.theguardian.com