Early warning sign of dementia can appear when you're asleep - what to look for

Health experts are sounding the alarm on a "distressing" event during sleep, which could foreshadow a serious neurological issue. Many of us grapple with sleep disturbances at some point. The NHS reports that one in three people will struggle with sleep difficulties at least once in their lives.

Nevertheless, frequent nightmares might signal an early warning for dementia. In 2022, a study published by The Lancet that "distressing dreams" may be an early sign of the condition in individuals without any previous cognitive impairments.

The study involved tracking 605 middle-aged participants over 13 years and assessing the likelihood of all-cause dementia in 2,600 older adults, initially free from the condition, over a period of up to seven years. Researchers aligned their sleep patterns with subsequent dementia diagnoses.

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The authors remarked that after adjusting for confounding variables, there was a significant linear relationship between distressing dream frequency and increased risk of cognitive decline in middle-aged adults, as well as elevated risk of all-cause dementia in older adults. Specifically, middle-aged adults reporting weekly distressing dreams at the start of the study were found to be four times more likely to experience cognitive deterioration.

In older adults, the risk of dementia was found to be twice as high for those experiencing distressing dreams. The research team noted that "the associations between distressing dreams and both cognitive outcomes were 'only statistically significant amongst men'."

They concluded: "Distressing dreams predict cognitive decline and all-cause dementia in middle-aged and older adults without cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease - especially amongst men. These findings may help to identify individuals at risk of dementia and could facilitate early prevention strategies."

The Alzheimer’s Society has also highlighted that individuals with dementia might suffer from REM behavioural sleep disorder (RBD), which leads to them acting out their dreams during REM sleep phases. "They may physically act out their dreams, which can be violent in nature and their arms and legs may flail around," the charity explains. They may wake up suddenly and fall out of bed. If they are sleeping next to a partner, these involuntary movements can cause injury."

This condition not only causes daytime fatigue but can also pose a danger if the person falls out of bed. The NHS outlines early symptoms of dementia, including memory loss, difficulty concentrating, challenges with daily tasks, problems following conversations or finding the right word, confusion about time and place, and mood changes.

Should you or someone you know start to exhibit signs of dementia, it's crucial to seek medical advice promptly.