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To study the connection between bad dreams and Parkinson’s, the researchers used data from a large cohort study in the U.S., which included 12 years’ worth of data on 3,818 older men living
independently at home. At the beginning of the study, the participants were asked a series of questions, including one on their sleep quality. Those who reported bad dreams at least
once a week were studied again once the study ended to see if they were more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The researchers discovered that 91 participants with frequent
nightmares were diagnosed during the follow-up period. The men who experienced repeated nightmares were twice as likely to develop the disease. The majority of the Parkinson’s diagnoses
occurred in the first five years of the study. Participants with frequent bad dreams during that period were over three times more likely to eventually develop the brain disorder. The
researchers said the results of the study suggest that older adults who are eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s will likely experience nightmares a few years before the onset of symptoms.
“While we need to carry out further research in this area, identifying the significance of bad dreams and nightmares could indicate that individuals who experience changes to their dreams in
older age, without any obvious trigger, should seek medical advice,” Otaiku said.
