A delay in getting to the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep may be linked to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, a new study indicates.

Groundbreaking study uncovers the crucial link between REM sleep patterns and Alzheimer's disease, providing new insights for early detection and prevention.

However, some research suggests that poor sleep could raise your risk of Alzheimer’s. A study published in November found that 35 percent of people who were considered poor sleepers (and felt excessively tired during the day as a result) went on to develop motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), which is considered a precursor to dementia.

Delays in dreaming might be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. People who take significantly longer to enter the rapid eye movement phase of sleep could be experiencing an early symptom of Alzheimer's, researchers reported Monday in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia .