Getting more REM sleep could be linked to a lower risk of as many as 83 different diseases, according to a new study — adding fresh weight to the idea that the quality of our sleep shapes our long-term health.

REM — rapid eye movement — is the sleep stage most closely associated with dreaming. The findings suggest that time spent in this deep, active phase of sleep may be a marker, or even a driver, of better health outcomes.

What the study found

Researchers reported an association between greater REM sleep and reduced risk across a strikingly wide range of conditions — 83 diseases in total. The breadth of the link is what makes the study notable: it is not one or two illnesses, but a pattern spanning many categories of disease.

Scientists caution that association is not proof of cause. It is possible that people who get more REM sleep share other healthy habits, or that early, undetected illness itself disrupts sleep. But the consistency of the pattern has researchers paying close attention.

Why REM sleep matters

Sleep scientists have long suspected that REM sleep plays a special role in the body’s overnight maintenance — from emotional processing to memory consolidation and metabolic regulation. Disrupted REM has previously been linked to mood disorders and cognitive decline.

If the new findings hold up, protecting REM sleep — by keeping regular sleep hours, limiting alcohol and late-night screen time, and treating sleep disorders — could become a mainstream health recommendation.

The bigger picture

The study lands amid growing recognition that sleep is not a luxury but a pillar of health, alongside diet and exercise. As measurement tools improve, researchers are moving beyond “how long did you sleep” to “how well did you sleep” — and which stages you reached.

For now, the message is simple: those vivid dreams may be doing more for your health than anyone realised.