Researchers from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London have conducted a study suggesting that an increase in nightmares or daytime hallucinations could be early symptoms of autoimmune diseases, particularly lupus. The study involved 676 people with lupus, as well as 400 clinicians and 69 individuals with various chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorders, shedding light on the potential link between disrupted dream sleep and the onset of autoimmune diseases.
Patients often described their dreams as “vivid and distressing,” commonly involving being attacked, trapped, crushed, or falling. The study revealed that three in five patients with lupus reported disrupted dream sleep, with a third of them saying it started over a year before the onset of the disease. Additionally, just under 25% of patients reported having hallucinations during the day, which for 85% did not occur until other symptoms had also started. These findings suggest that an increase in nightmares or daytime hallucinations could serve as early indicators of autoimmune diseases.
The research also found that disrupted sleep, nightmares, and hallucinations preceded a “flare-up” of lupus in the majority of the patients surveyed, indicating that these symptoms may also be predictive of exacerbations of the disease. The study’s findings emphasize the importance of considering disrupted sleep and vivid dreams as potential early warning signs for autoimmune diseases, especially in individuals with a family history or higher risk of developing such conditions.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack tissues and organs, leading to inflammation in the joints and affecting movement, skin rashes, and fatigue. With approximately 50,000 people affected in the UK, the disease can have severe and even life-threatening implications. Given the potential significance of sleep disturbances and vivid dreams as early signs of autoimmune diseases like lupus, researchers are urging for increased awareness and consideration of these symptoms in the medical community. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to ask patients about sleep disturbances and consider the possibility of autoimmune diseases when presented with such symptoms, in order to facilitate timely diagnosis and intervention.
