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How Sleep Apnea Is Tied to Brain Damage and Increased Dementia Risk

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A recent study has revealed that sleep apnea can directly cause brain damage, increasing the risks of aging and dementia.

Image illustrating the article. / amenic181-shutterstock.com
amenic181-shutterstock.com

A research team led by Alberto Ramos, Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, published their findings in the prestigious journal Neurology. The study is scheduled for publication in the journal’s January 2025 issue.

The team examined approximately 2,700 Hispanic seniors, with an average age of 68. They discovered that individuals with sleep apnea experienced accelerated aging of white matter in the brain and increased hippocampal size.

Sleep apnea is when breathing stops during sleep, causing the brain to be alert and restart respiration.

The Sleep Foundation warns that untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and mood disorders.

Researchers suspected that sleep apnea might also damage the brain. Ramos noted that sleep issues and decreased oxygen levels during sleep are linked to brain shrinkage. Another study confirmed a connection to brain growth.

The research focused on Latino seniors at high risk for dementia. About 56% of the participants reported having no sleep issues, 28% reported having mild sleep issues, and 16% reported having moderate to severe sleep issues when asked how frequently they had sleep issues while sleeping at home.

Brain scans conducted a decade after the initial sleep tests revealed that individuals with more sleep problems had larger hippocampi. The size of the hippocampus increased with the frequency of sleep disturbances. Low oxygen levels during sleep were also associated with increased hippocampal volume and white matter changes.

Ramos emphasized the importance of understanding how sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, affect brain volume. He also highlighted the need to ensure that individuals at high risk for dementia receive early and effective treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of sleep apnea patients in South Korea has surged from 40,567 in 2018 to 153,802 last year, a 3.4-fold increase.

Notably, men in their 30s and 40s and women in their 50s and 60s showed higher prevalence rates. Globally, over 936 million adults are estimated to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

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