Dementia and bad dreams usually come together for most adults, particularly for people in their golden years. Dementia is a serious neurodegenerative disease in which the brain has reduced functionality. In many cases, this type of disease is also associated with vivid bad dreams that happen frequently.
But what is the correlation between the two? And having periodic nightmares means that you might be predisposed to developing dementia? Keep reading to find out more about this neurodegenerative disease and how it affects adults.
Neurodegenerative Diseases Might Cause More Bad Dreams
Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and others are just a few examples of neurodegenerative diseases. They affect the brain of a person as they reduce functional connections between neurons. In really advanced states, these diseases can cause a shrinkage in brain mass and they cause a series of symptoms such as memory problems, slurred speech, and so on.
This is probably one of the reasons why people with dementia experience frequent bad dreams. Poor-quality neuronal connections might make the brain act in various strange ways and sometimes this could manifest as a bad dream. Many people also vividly act out their bad dreams during the night by yelling or accidentally hitting something near the bed.
People With REM Sleep Behavior Are at Risk
REM sleep is also known as rapid-eye movement. This is a sleep state that occurs almost every night for everyone. However, some studies have discovered that those who experience a high percentage of REM sleep during the night are at risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia in the future.
Everyone has one or two bad dreams here and there, especially if you’re very tired. However, if nightmares are a common occurrence and you also get physically active during your sleep then this could be a problem. People in their golden years are more predisposed to REM sleep behavior, wandering, and other types of sleep problems. If you see such symptoms in your loved ones, you should take action quickly and talk with a doctor about this.
Some Drugs Can Induce Nightmares
Studies show that different types of drugs can also increase the frequency and vividness of nightmares. For example, antidepressants, alpha-blockers and statins are known to cause sleep disturbances as well as bad dreams in people who take them regularly. Coincidentally, some of these drugs are prescribed to people who already struggle with feelings of depression and have a predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases.
That’s why it’s important to consult with a doctor before taking more drugs to treat different types of problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. Drugs might interfere with each other and they can cause serious consequences in one’s body, especially when talking about people in their golden years.
Dementia is one of the most popular neurodegenerative diseases that affects people in their golden years. Fortunately, this condition can be managed and even improved through diet, health exercises, and different types of activities that stimulate the brain. Get in touch with one of our team members today to learn more about dementia and how can you help your loved ones.
