Nightmares, daytime hallucinations could indicate onset of THIS disease

An international research team has found that an increase in nightmares and hallucinations, or 'daymares,' could indicate the onset of autoimmune diseases like lupus. Lupus, an autoimmune inflammatory disease, impacts multiple organs, including the brain. According to researchers from the University of Cambridge and King's College London in the UK, mental health and neurological symptoms such as depression, hallucinations, and loss of balance can serve as early warning signs of an impending "flare," a period when the disease worsens. In their study, the researchers surveyed 676 people with lupus and 400 clinicians, and conducted in-depth interviews with 69 people suffering from systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (including lupus) and 50 clinicians. Also read | Pregnancy and kidney health: All you need to know The findings, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, revealed that disrupted dream sleep was the most common symptom, experienced by three out of five patients. Among these patients, one-third developed lupus a year later. Additionally, just under a quarter of the patients reported experiencing hallucinations, which were present in 85 per cent of those with lupus. Furthermore, three out of five lupus patients and one in three individuals with other rheumatology-related conditions reported increasingly disrupted dream sleep, often vivid and distressing nightmares, shortly before experiencing hallucinations. These nightmares frequently involved scenarios of being attacked, trapped, crushed, or falling. Also read | ‘Rarest of rare’ kidney swap saves lives of two mothers from India and Tanzania "Patients often know which symptoms are a bad sign that their disease is about to flare, but both patients and doctors can be reluctant to discuss mental health and neurological symptoms, particularly if they don't realise that these can be a part of autoimmune diseases," said Melanie, the lead author from the varsity's Department of Public Health and Primary Care. (With inputs from agencies)