Dreaming regularly linked to lower risk of 83 diseases, study finds
A recent study has revealed that dreaming regularly can help keep you healthy.
According to the research, the quality of your sleep—rather than just the duration—may have a greater impact on your risk of developing various diseases.
Previous studies had shown that getting six to eight hours of sleep daily reduces the risk of several diseases; however, there has been limited research on the relationship between specific sleep stages and health.
This recent study, conducted in China, analyzed data from over 95,000 adults. The findings revealed that individuals who experienced “dreaming sleep” had a lower risk of 83 different diseases.
In English, this is known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep; it is the stage of sleep during which dreaming typically occurs. It begins approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep and recurs roughly every 90 minutes. REM sleep accounts for about 20 to 25 percent of total sleep time, while the remainder consists of light and deep sleep stages.
😴 Understanding REM Sleep
- Begins approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep
- Recurs roughly every 90 minutes throughout the night
- Accounts for about 20–25% of total sleep time
- Periods become longer during the second half of the night
- Waking up early can reduce REM sleep duration
Waking up early in the morning can also reduce the duration of REM sleep, as the periods of REM sleep become longer during the second half of the night. To measure their sleep, researchers asked participants to wear a wrist sensor for seven days.
The researchers analyzed the duration of each sleep stage, total sleep time, time spent awake during the night, and irregularities in sleep patterns. The participants were subsequently monitored for approximately nine years, during which researchers examined the relationship between their sleep patterns and over a thousand different diseases.
According to the study, individuals who spent more time in the dreaming phase of sleep (REM sleep) had a 26% lower risk of heart attack and a 46% lower risk of dementia. Similarly, the risk of Parkinson’s disease was reduced by 80%.
These findings were associated with approximately 48 minutes of additional REM sleep. Health benefits were also observed in individuals who experienced more deep sleep; they faced a lower risk of seven specific conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and severe depression.
Irregular sleep patterns and frequent nighttime awakenings were linked to an increased risk of certain conditions, including anxiety and substance use disorders.
Overall, individuals who regularly slept between six and eight hours faced the lowest aggregate risk of disease, whereas those who slept less than five hours were found to be at higher risk for 37 different diseases.
💡 Key Takeaways
Prioritize sleep quality—not just quantity. Avoid waking up too early, which cuts into valuable REM sleep. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, aim for 6–8 hours, and allow your body to complete its natural sleep cycles for maximum health benefits.
Why it matters: This large-scale study provides compelling evidence that REM sleep—the dreaming stage—plays a vital role in preventing chronic diseases. The findings suggest that sleep quality should be a public health priority, alongside diet and exercise, for reducing the burden of heart disease, dementia, and other conditions.
