Poor dream recall associates with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and dementia risk
Darren M Lipnicki1, Meritxell Valentí2, Elizabeth Valeriano-Lorenzo2
1Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Introduction:
Dreaming is subserved by the default mode network (DMN) and can be abolished by focal lesions within key regions. DMN dysfunction is promoted by pre-clinical Alzheimer's pathology and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriage, but any effects of these on dreaming are unknown.
Methods:
Associations between dream recall and APOE ε4 carriage and blood phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 217 levels were determined using data for 1049 cognitively normal adults. Associations between dream recall and cognitive decline and dementia risk were also investigated.
Results:
Higher p-tau217 levels and APOE ε4 carriage were both associated with lower chances of dream recall, independently of memory test scores and other covariates. Not recalling dreams at baseline was associated with faster cognitive decline and greater likelihood of dementia over 10 years of follow up.
Discussion:
Poor dream recall in later life may be a novel and easily assessed indicator of early neurodegeneration.
Insights
Poor dream recall may signal early neurodegeneration. Lower dream recall is linked to higher levels of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 217 and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4, indicating potential Alzheimer's disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Dreaming is associated with the default mode network (DMN).
- DMN dysfunction is linked to preclinical Alzheimer's pathology and APOE ε4 carriage.
- The impact of these factors on dreaming remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dream recall and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers (p-tau 217, APOE ε4).
- To explore the relationship between dream recall and subsequent cognitive decline and dementia risk.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1049 cognitively normal adults.
- Examined associations between dream recall, APOE ε4 carriage, and blood p-tau 217 levels.
- Investigated links between baseline dream recall and 10-year cognitive decline and dementia risk.
Main Results:
- Elevated p-tau 217 levels and APOE ε4 carriage were independently associated with reduced dream recall.
- Poor dream recall at baseline predicted faster cognitive decline over 10 years.
- Not recalling dreams was linked to a higher likelihood of developing dementia.
Conclusions:
- Poor dream recall may serve as an early indicator of neurodegeneration.
- Dream recall could be a simple, accessible marker for preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
- Further research is warranted to validate dream recall as a biomarker.
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