A recent study of 448 older women finds that those with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea, had a higher incidence of cognitive decline.
The participants of the study, who averaged 83 years of age, underwent an overnight sleep study to determine if they had SDB. They were also given standard tests of memory, attention and other cognitive abilities.
The researchers found that those participants with SDB showed a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment than those without. Further, those with severe breathing problems had more than 3 times the increase in risk of mental impairment.
The link between SBD and mental impairment was predominantly strong in women who carried the gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Dr. Adam P. Spira, a research fellow and the University of California San Francisco and lead investigator on the study, the findings do not prove that nighttime breathing problems directly contribute to cognitive decline. He did say, however, that it is “quite plausible”.
The current theory is that SDB results in chronic oxygen depravation with leads to damaged brain cells. Additionally, women who carry the Alzheimer’s gene may be more susceptible to this damage.
Dr. Spira adds that additional research needs to be conducted to determine whether SDB is a predictor of future cognitive decline.
The findings of this study were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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