Nightmares can ruin your mood, as our brains can't tell dreams from reality, according to neuroscientist Dr. Abidemi Otaiku.
In alarming new findings, Otaiku and his team analyzed the data of more than 183,000 adults aged 26 to 86 and 2,400 children aged 8 to 10. They discovered that adults who experience nightmares on a weekly basis are more than three times as likely to die before reaching 70 compared to those who don’t suffer from frequent bad dreams.

These results suggest that nightmares might be an even stronger predictor of early death than factors like poor diet, physical inactivity, or smoking. The next time someone dismisses your nightmares as "just a bad dream," you may want to share this research with them.
“Nightmares frequently wake us in a panic, drenched in sweat, gasping for air, and with racing hearts — all because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered,” said Otaiku, a Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, in a press release. “This stress response can often be more intense than anything we face while awake.”
The researchers examined participants’ biological aging by analyzing the length of their telomeres — the small protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as we age and are linked to diseases like cancer, heart problems, and other chronic illnesses.
Those who experienced regular nightmares had significantly shorter telomeres, indicating accelerated biological aging, and were found to have a 40% higher likelihood of dying prematurely.
The researchers suggest that this may be a result of the increased stress and sleep disturbances — both known contributors to higher mortality rates — caused by disturbing dreams. “Nightmares can cause sustained spikes in cortisol, a stress hormone that plays a crucial role in speeding up cellular aging. For individuals who suffer from frequent nightmares, this constant stress may profoundly affect their aging process,” Otaiku explained, as he recently presented his research at the European Academy of Neurology’s (EAN) annual meeting.
“Additionally, nightmares interfere with sleep quality and duration, hindering the body’s crucial overnight cellular repair and restoration. The combination of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contributes to the accelerated aging of our cells and bodies.”
Even having nightmares once a month increased the risk of premature death, though those who had nightmares weekly faced the highest risk.
The study found that nightmares do not show favoritism, as the results remained consistent when adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and overall mental health.
This research suggests that nightmares should not be easily dismissed in our society.
"Given how common and treatable nightmares are, they should be taken more seriously as a public health issue," Otaiku said. "The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated. Simple actions such as avoiding frightening movies, maintaining good sleep habits, managing stress, and seeking help for anxiety or depression can prove effective."
In addition to his recommendations for avoiding disturbing dreams, experts also suggest maintaining a regular sleep schedule, writing down your concerns, avoiding stimulants like alcohol and caffeine, and establishing a calming pre-bedtime routine.