It is only normal that, as we become older, we may experience a variety of new health difficulties. As our bodies become older, it’s only normal that this happens. On the other hand, if you have obstructive sleep apnea and you don’t get it treated, you could be increasing your chances of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. People who have obstructive sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine to treat their sleep apnea had a decreased chance of acquiring dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to study that was conducted not too long ago.
We have detailed these illnesses and their links so that you may have a better understanding of the connection between dementia and sleep apnea.
What exactly is dementia?
A whole of adults are now living with dementia in Australia. The term “dementia” does not refer to a specific disease but rather to a group of health conditions that are characterised by an impairment in brain functions such as decision making, memory loss, and cognitive ability that interfere with everyday activities. Dementia can be caused by a number of different diseases. Memory loss, withdrawal from social interaction, and decline in cognitive abilities are all symptoms that may accompany the start of dementia, which can be gradual or sudden.
Because dementia is more frequent in people who are older but is not a natural component of ageing, it is crucial to understand the relationship between sleep apnea and dementia. Dementia is most common in people who are older.
Sleep Apnea: What Is It?
An individual who suffers from the disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea will, during the course of the night, experience several instances in which they stop breathing. These problems with breathing occur when the muscles and soft tissues located within the throat become tense and contracted, which causes the airway to become clogged. Snoring, coughing, or gasping for air are all common behaviours that an individual exhibits while they are attempting to reopen their airway and restore oxygen flow.
The disturbances in breathing might take place anywhere from a few times to several hundred times during the course of the night. Most of the time, the individual is unaware that these pauses in breathing are occuring and must have a companion inform them of their occurrence. When mistreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to a variety of other health issues, including dementia, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
The Relationship That Exists Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy had a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as well as other forms of dementia, according to the findings of a study that was carried out not too long ago by researchers from the Sleep Disorders Centers at Michigan Medicine.
The research looked at the medical records of almost 50,000 Medicare recipients aged 65 and older who had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. They compared the participants in the group who had CPAP therapy to those in the group that did not receive any treatment over the course of three years. Their goal was to search for a loss in cognitive function or a diagnosis of dementia in either group.
The researchers found a correlation between the use of positive airway pressure therapy and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia over a three-year period. This finding suggests that treatment for OSA may be a protective measure against cognitive impairment in older patients. The two groups were compared in order to find this correlation.
Positive airway pressure may be protective against dementia risk in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a professor of neurology and a sleep epidemiologist. According to the report, researchers have found a significant association between the use of positive airway pressure and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia over a three-year period. This finding suggests that positive airway pressure may reduce the risk of dementia in people with OSA.
Test Yourself for Sleep Apnea Today!
It is imperative that you or a patient get checked for sleep apnea if you have trouble sleeping or if you feel unrested after a full night’s sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Intervention and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea at an earlier stage offers the possibility of reducing the symptoms of dementia at a later stage in life.
We suggest that you that you consult the right medical professional to get tested for sleep apnea if you know you’ve been having the symptoms in order to figure out whether or not you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. With the help of a home sleep study, patients are able to complete the examination in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. You might either go to your primary care physician or make an appointment with one of our sleep specialists at Air Liquide Healthcare.
The patient’s blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing rate, and the frequency with which their body shifts their blood oxygen saturation are all recorded by the device while they are sleeping. After the unattended home sleep study is complete, one of our board-certified sleep physicians will review the findings and provide a treatment plan that may include the use of a CPAP mask or machine. The goal of this treatment plan is to improve the quality of your sleep, thereby lowering your risk of developing dementia.