Maybe you know you’re snoring like a bear, but you don’t feel much urgency to investigate it. Or, you may have been told to wear a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to treat sleep apnea, but it may be too much of a hassle.
New research suggests it’s important to take obstructive sleep apnea seriously now. This may affect the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Studies have shown that people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea are at greater risk of developing new microbleeds in the brain.
“Brain microhemorrhages are a common finding in the aging brain,” said Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D., professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. He did not participate in the study.
Microbleeds increase with age, and people with them have a slightly higher risk of future stroke and faster cognitive decline, Graff-Radford said. “Anything that increases microbleeds is associated with brain aging,” he added.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway is blocked by weak, heavy, or flaccid soft tissue, interfering with breathing during sleep. This condition is different from central sleep apnea, in which the brain sometimes skips telling the body to breathe.
there is Some Treatment Methods Obstructive sleep apnea (using an oral appliance that holds the throat open during sleep; regularly using a CPAP or similar machine; surgery.
Rudy Tanzi, M.D., professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Department of Genetics and Aging Research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said the study has strong methodology and should highlight the importance of sleep apnea screening for clinicians and the importance of treatment for patients. He did not participate in the study.
“Don’t ignore it. Do something about it,” he said. “Not only is there an immediate risk from bleeding, but there is also a risk of it leading to Alzheimer’s disease later in life.”
Not addressing obstructive sleep apnea is twofold, Tanzi said. Not getting enough quality sleep, which can be difficult if your breathing weakens at night, has been linked to brain aging, but the microbleeds it can cause can increase your risk of dementia.
Research published in the journal JAMA Network Open Tuesday is observational, meaning it can only confirm that obstructive sleep apnea and microhemorrhages are linked and cannot prove that one definitely causes the other. Additional research is needed to determine whether treating sleep apnea can prevent microbleeds.
When should you ask your doctor about obstructive sleep apnea?
Loud and frequent snoring is a good indicator, Tanzi said. If you notice your partner stopping breathing, panting, or choking while you sleep, this is another sign that you should investigate sleep apnea.
Problems during the day can also be a good indicator. Drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and increased hunger are signs that you are not getting quality sleep and that it may be time to get evaluated for sleep apnea.
Studies have shown that night sweats may also be a sign of sleep apnea. About 30% of people People with obstructive sleep apnea have been reported to experience night sweats.
Wake up at least twice Grinding your teeth at night, morning headache It may indicate a problem.
The latest study “urges (people) to take this issue more seriously because the harm that can occur from obstructive sleep apnea may certainly be more serious than we think,” Tanzi said.
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