Poor dream recall associates with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and dementia risk
Darren M. Lipnicki, Meritxell Valenti, Elizabeth Lucia Valeriano‐Lorenzo, Ashleigh S. Vella, María Ascensión Zea‐Sevilla, Mario Ricciardi, Belén Frades, Minerva Martinez, Sonia Wagner, Perminder S. Sachdev, Teodoro del Ser, Pascual Sanchez‐Juan
Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring March 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70322 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong cognitively normal older adults, higher blood levels of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 217 and carrying the APOE ε4 gene variant are each linked to a lower likelihood of recalling dreams, regardless of memory test performance. Not recalling dreams at the start of the study is associated with faster cognitive decline and a greater risk of developing dementia over the next ten years. Poor dream recall in later life may serve as an early, easily assessed marker of neurodegeneration.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,049 |
| Population | Cognitively normal adults |
| Duration | 10-year follow-up |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Keywords | Dementia Recall Dream Cognition Cognitive decline |
| Key finding | Higher p-tau217 levels and APOE ε4 carriage are each associated with lower odds of dream recall, and lack of dream recall predicts faster cognitive decline and higher dementia risk over 10 years. |
Abstract
Abstract 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.