Scientists: Night terrors early in life can disrupt sleep, which over time leads to an increased buildup of harmful proteins in the brain that can cause cognitive decline.
A new study revealed that those who suffered from frequent nightmares in their childhood are more likely to develop “fatal brain disorders” later in life.
The study concluded, according to what was reported by a newspaper The Daily Mail However, persistent nightmares from the age of seven can predict future risk of dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
In the study, which followed 7,000 people from birth to the age of 50, the University of Birmingham team in the UK said those who had persistent nightmares during childhood were twice as likely to develop dementia and seven times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
The scientists explained that night terrors early in life can disrupt sleep, which over time leads to an increased buildup of harmful proteins in the brain that can cause cognitive decline.
Making children less likely to have nightmares, whether by providing a dim light at night, following a consistent routine, or giving them a toy to cuddle with, can have major long-term benefits for their brains.
Scientists have long known that bad dreams in middle and old age can be a warning sign of cognitive decline. But this study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, suggests that the link extends into early childhood.
The Birmingham scientists analyzed data from the 1958 British Birth Cohort Study.
The study tracked data for children born in the week beginning March 3, 1958 in England, until their 50th birthday in 2008.
As part of the study, the children’s mothers provided information about “disturbing dreams and night terrors” at age seven (in 1965) and age 11 (in 1969).
Children whose parents said they had nightmares in both cases were defined as having persistent nightmares, and the young adults were then monitored until 2008 for a diagnosis of cognitive impairment, such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
Of the 7,000 people who participated in the study, 268 people (4%) had bad dreams early in their lives, and among these, 6-17% developed cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease by the time they reached the age of fifty.
For comparison, of the 5,470 people who did not have nightmares, only 199, or 3.6%, developed dementia.
The analysis was conducted by adjusting the results for age, sex, maternal age at birth, number of siblings, and other confounding factors. But the results showed that those with disturbing dreams were 76% more likely to have cognitive impairment, and 640% more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. These results were similar for both boys and girls.
Although it wasn’t clear why bad dreams could be a warning sign of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. But previous research has linked this to changes in brain structures that make a person more susceptible to cognitive diseases.
Others have suggested that those who experience bad dreams have poor sleep quality, which may lead to a gradual buildup of proteins associated with dementia.
Neurologist Abedemi Otaiko, who led the study, explained that it may be due to genetics, as the PTPRJ protein, which is known to increase the risk of persistent nightmares, is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease in old age.
Shall we say goodbye to Alzheimer’s?
On the other hand, and as a happy news, the media office of the Petersburg University of Applied Sciences of Russia announced news that may constitute a scientific revolution to get rid of a problem that worries many, as the university’s scientists have created a drug that preserves memory and is effective in combating Alzheimer’s disease.
The office confirmed that the tests conducted on laboratory animals proved the effectiveness of the drug.
“The aim of this drug is to reduce the loss of connections between cells, which helps preserve memory. We believe that Alzheimer’s disease begins with the damage of connections between neurons in the The brain. If we can slow down this process, we will delay the onset of disease symptoms.”
According to the office, the drug was tested on animals that had memory problems. It turned out that when taking the drug, its components penetrate the blood-brain barrier, reach the brain, and have a positive effect on the cells, which leads to the restoration of memory.
The researchers plan to study the drug in terms of toxicity, mutation and side effects, after which it will undergo clinical tests.
