According to a recent study, experiencing nightmares could be a precursor to Parkinson’s disease. As per University of Birmingham researchers, older men who have regular nightmares are more than three times more likely to subsequently have the condition.
Discovery shows the need for early screening
The discovery raises the prospect of a screening test that might enable patients to begin therapy sooner. Scary nightmares are common in those who have fatal neurological illness, but researchers haven’t thought of utilizing them as a caution indicator until now.
A statement from SWNS quotes lead author Dr. Abidemi Otaiku indicated that although it can be incredibly helpful to identify Parkinson’s earlier, there are few risk factors, and many of these need expensive hospital testing or are very prevalent and non-specific, like diabetes.
While more research is required, it is possible that understanding the significance of fears and unpleasant dreams will lead people to seek medical help if their dreams alter as they age and there is no clear cause.
The researchers examined information on 3,818 people who were followed for a mean of 12 years while living individually in the United States. They started by filling out a variety of surveys, one of which asked about their quality of sleep.
Nightmares in old people are a sign of developing Parkinson’s.
At the conclusion of the study period, experts checked up with those who reported having disturbing nightmares at least once each week. Doctors identified 91 Parkinson’s patients at that time. In general, those who frequently had nightmares had a twofold increased risk of contracting the illness. However, the majority of diagnoses occurred in the study’s first five years, when incidence almost tripled relative to peers who slept peacefully.
According to the findings, older people with Parkinson’s disease are probably going to start having dreams some years before they start showing signs of tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. The study also demonstrates that dreams might provide crucial details on the anatomy and operation of the brain, suggesting a potential area of focus for future neuroscience research.
